Freeburg & Granieri, APC, is a law firm based in South Pasadena, CA, offering legal representation in employment law for employers and employees alike in a variety of employment law matters and other related practice areas. Potential clients are able to speak to one of our super lawyers in free consultations, where we can discuss your employment law case. Our clients work with employment attorneys who will fight to uphold your legal rights through aggressive representation to help you recover from an employment issue in a timely manner.
If you’re looking for an employment law firm that can help you stand up for your rights, it’s crucial to choose a firm that understands your perspective and has your best interests at heart. We have extensive experience in answer legal questions through research platforms such as Thomson Reuters. Our bilingual law firm staff offers services in both English and Spanish, and is available now to discuss your case during a free consultation by calling (626) 486-9082 or contacting us online. Sound too good to be true? Visit our website to read client testimonials from previous cases our super lawyers oversaw. If you are involved in an employment-related dispute, or if you need to ensure that you are in compliance with the many local, state or federal laws relating to employment, you should contact the South Pasadena employment lawyers at Freeburg & Granieri, APC for a free consultation.
Our Los Angeles County-based employment law firm covers the following legal questions and labor issues:
Employment Law- Discrimination, Employee Contracts and Severance Agreements, Employee Rights, Harassment, Retaliation, Unpaid Wages, Wrongful Termination, Labor Law,
Employer Advice & Counsel- Our attorneys work with employers to have the correct policies, practices, and procedures in place. Despite the best planning and taking proactive steps to prevent litigation, should a lawsuit or claim be filed, Freeburg & Granieri, APC will represent your company’s best interest and litigate the case with zealous advocacy. Based on our years of experience representing employees, we have a unique perspective and understand both sides of employment litigation.
Employment law attorneys represent both employees and employers throughout the legal process involving issues in both state and federal employment law. Employment law attorneys ensure that all employees are treated in a fair and consistent manner and that employers are in compliance with all of the many local, state and federal laws that apply in the modern workplace.
Employment law attorneys can draft and review employee handbooks, assist with wage law issues and represent employees or employers before state and federal agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), California Civil Rights department (CCRD), and Labor Commissioner. They also provide guidance on employees’ rights if they allege that their rights have been violated.
Employment lawyers handle employment-related legal issues, including but not limited to: wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, contract violations, and whistleblower protection. At Freeburg & Granieri, we offer employment law services that encompass each of these categories,
While federal employment laws set the standard, many states have implemented workplace laws that provide additional protection for employees. California law has the more expansive Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which prevents discrimination in the work place by placing certain groups of people in protected classes. Discrimination and employment disputes can come in several forms, from wage and hour violations to wrongful termination. California law provides broad protection for employees who are treated unfairly in the workplace due to the following protected characteristics:
Race
Religious Creed
Color
National Origin,
Ancestry
Physical Disability
Mental Disability
Medical Condition
Genetic Information
Marital Status
Sex
Gender
Gender Identity
Gender Expression
Age
Sexual Orientation
Military and Veteran Status
If you believe you have been made to endure policies that negatively affect you simply because you were in any of these classes, we can hold your employer responsible and help you pursue redress for the wrong you have suffered.
Employees have legal rights and employers are required by law to respect and abide by those rights. Even the most conscientious employer occasionally needs help from a lawyer. Although you can handle many employment matters on your own, some issues are particularly tricky and will require some legal expertise. Labor lawyers are those that can represent both an employee and the employer with different issues regarding the state and federal labor law.
It is hard to run a business without having to know the ins and outs of all of California's employment laws. Supervisors, managers, business owners, bosses, etc. can commit a wide variety of unlawful actions that place employees at a disadvantage or violate their rights. A person should contact an employment attorney in any of the following situations:
The person has been harassed at work;
The person has been treated in a discriminatory manner because of a protected characteristic, e.g. pregnancy;
The employer has retaliated against the person because they exercised a right such as requesting overtime pay to which they are entitled by law;.
The person’s employment has experienced wrongful termination in violation of an employment contract, express or implied;
The person is being forced to sign an agreement waiving rights to which they are entitled;
The person’s employer has not given them the benefits to which they are entitled under their employment contract.
When an employee is injured or becomes sick in their workplace, they may need to file a workers’ compensation claim. A labor lawyer may help an employee to file the most effective possible claim or to appeal a denial of benefits.
If an employee works in a non-unionized workplace and wants to try to unionize, the employee may well want to consult an employment lawyer. An employment lawyer can help by advising employees about their right to form a union and the activities in which they can engage in connection with that effort.
A person should contact an employment attorney as soon as they become aware of an issue. If a person waits to contact an attorney, the delay could prevent them from proving the conduct committed by the employer and thus from recovering damages. Also, there are usually time limits to asserting rights and complaints under the law; any delay risks losing the right to file a claim or complaint.
As a business owner, an experienced employment attorney can assist you with a wide variety of issues related to employment. Many employment attorneys can educate clients about the state and federal laws that apply in the employer’s particular workplace, and subsequently employment lawyers can help ensure that employers are in compliance with those laws and prevent future problems.
Employment lawyers may also help clients learn about their obligations in connection with the guidelines of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Additionally, employment lawyers can defend employers before a range of governmental boards and agencies in the event that they are cited for non-compliance.
An employer should contact an employment attorney if:
They need representation in collective bargaining negotiations with a union;
An employee has filed a complaint for discrimination or harassment against them;
When an employee has filed a lawsuit naming them as a defendant for an employment related matter; or
The employer plans to lay off or fire a large number of employees, terminate an employee benefit, or change the current pension plan that it offers.
An experienced employment attorney can also assist you with legal issues other than employee-employer disputes. An employment lawyer can help review or prepare contracts and agreements that you use with your employees such as employment contracts, severance contracts, or releases.
All workplaces are subject to many different types of regulation by a number of different local, state and federal agencies, and an employer would definitely want to be in regular contact with an attorney who has expertise in the domains of regulation that affect the employer’s particular workplace. It would be in an employer's best interest to have their employment attorney assess their compliance with applicable regulations on a routine basis.
Trying to understand California labor law can be overwhelming. Fortunately, in addition to understanding employment law in California, attorneys at Freeburg & Granieri can assist human resources professionals in creating company policies, communicating those policies to employees, and dealing with hiring and termination or handling employee benefits.
The topics below cover some of the most common areas of labor law we work with our clients:
Overtime Pay- How to ensure that your nonexempt employees are receiving proper California overtime pay.
Independent Contractors- How to determine whether an individual is an independent contractor and if you are in compliance with laws governing independent contractors.
Exempt and Nonexempt Employees- We can determine which of your California employees are considered exempt or nonexempt under California law.
Meal and Rest Breaks- Meal and rest break compliance continues to be the source of a great deal of litigation for California employers. Understanding California's meal and rest breaks requirements is extremely important for all California employers and employees.
Calculating Work Hours/Travel Time- Calculating travel time can be challenging. Learn more about this important element of paying and scheduling your California employees by speaking.
Leaves of Absence: Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL)- Ensure that your business is in compliance with both federal and California law regarding medical or family leave.
Sexual Harassment- It is essential that you understand what constitutes sexual harassment and take steps to prevent and stop harassment in the workplace.
Employee Handbooks- Our firm can compose or edit comprehensive employee handbooks to inform your employees of their rights and responsibilities using required HR policies that will prevent significant lawsuits.
Drug and Alcohol Testing- Although employers have rights regarding drug testing, tests must be properly performed. Learn more about California employee drug testing under California labor law with a a free consultation at Freeburg & Granieri today.
Employee Termination Checklist - To avoid lawsuits, employees must be properly terminated. Learn more about proper employee termination in California and your responsibilities toward a terminated employee here.
As a California employer, you play many roles in your company. One of them is to ensure all your employees understand California employment laws as well as your company HR policies. We have the tools you need to communicate the necessary information to your employees.
Employers are exposed to lawsuits every time they take action related to employees, or when they fail to take necessary action. Knowing California employment law is an important part of your job. Educate yourself on all of the California laws, communicate with your employees, and common terminology to avoid violating employment law.
At-Will Employment: A type of employment relationship in which there is no contractual agreement and either party may end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason (unless it violates labor laws) or for no reason at all, without incurring a penalty.
Minimum Wage: A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labor. California minimum wage and hour violations can occur at local and state levels, see our recent post on the differences between minimum wage rates in California here.
Back Pay: A type of damages award in an employment lawsuit that represents the amount of money the employee would have earned if the employee was not fired or denied a promotion illegally.
Hostile Working Environment: A work environment that is so charged with harassment or similar unwanted behavior that it interferes with the ability to do one's job. The conduct has to be based on a FEHA protected category and not just a person being mean to you.
If you recently have experienced a difficult situation at work involving these essential employment law practice areas, you can speak to one of the South Pasadena employment lawyers at Freeburg & Granieri in South Pasadena today.
I was referred to Greg by a family friend which was the best thing to ever happen. From time I met Greg he was very thorough with his work and his lines of communication were excellent. I was never left in the dark with the entire process of my case.
Christy came on board with my case later on, but knew exactly what was going on. She was also was very involved and would pick up her phone whenever I had a question no matter how big or small.
This is a great team that will treat you as if you were family. I would recommend their services to anyone that needs help.
Christy was very caring and professional. She provided me with all my options and very thorough when explaining the process. She gave me confidence in my decisions.
Christy Granieri is a force of nature. She is bright, competent and direct. You place yourself in good hands with this firm. I highly recommend them.
Our clients become friends, confidants, and repeat customers. Former clients are our best referral source.
Do not be a commodity, find an attorney who treats your legal issue with the care it deserves.