What is the Law Regarding Employment in Santa Cruz County?

Employment law refers to the body of laws in Santa Cruz County that regulate employees, employers, and independent contractors. Employment issues that are controlled by these laws include hiring policies, wage amounts, and termination procedures. Employers and their employees alike should be aware of Santa Cruz County employment laws.

"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms

Occasionally an employment contract is used that sets a particular length of employment, but most of the times employment is considered to be on an "at-will" basis. "At-will" employment implies that either the employer or employee can end the job at any time for any reason, so long as it is not illegal to do so In the instance that the employer and employee have an employment contract, laws from both the state and federal government will apply to the city of Santa Cruz County

Anti-Discrimination laws in Santa Cruz County

Laws that make discrimination illegal at all stages of employment including hiring, wages, and termination policies, all apply to Santa Cruz County citizens. People living in Santa Cruz County must abide by laws stating it is illegal for employers to discriminate against people who belong to certain classes. These classes may be based on race, national origin, gender, religion, disability, and age.

Employment discrimination claims are often heard by an administrative agency like the EEOC. Furthermore, some attorneys are specialists in the discrimination field.