What is the Law Regarding Employment in Berkeley?

Employment law refers to the body of laws in Berkeley that govern employees, employers, and independent contractors. Such laws control employment matters like hiring, wage levels, and termination policies. Employers and employees in Berkeley should have an understanding of the employment laws.

"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms

Most of the time employment is considered to be "at-will", although in some instances there may be an employment contract between the employer and employee for a set period of time. In "at-will" employment, either the employer or the worker can terminate the job at any time, just as long as the reasons for doing so are not illegal. When the parties use an employment contract, the terms of employment will be regulated by their state and federal laws, as applied to people living in Berkeley.

Anti-Discrimination laws in Berkeley

The laws applicable for citizens of Berkeley typically make discrimination illegal at any phase of employment, such as hiring, working environment, and terminations. Individuals who live in the city of Berkeley are required to follow laws which employers from discriminating based on particular classes. These classes include race, gender, disability, national origin, and age.

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