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Employee Rights Handbook
A practical handbook of rights California workers commonly enforce—and what to document along the way.
Pay and hours
Non-exempt employees are generally owed overtime when daily or weekly hours cross legal thresholds, duty-free meal and rest breaks, and reimbursement for necessary work expenses. Final wages usually must be paid on time when a job ends. Mislabeling someone “exempt” or “contractor” does not erase those duties if the legal tests are not met.
Fair treatment
Employers may not discriminate or harass based on protected characteristics such as race, sex, disability, age (40+), religion, pregnancy, or national origin. Retaliation for opposing unlawful practices, requesting accommodations, or participating in investigations is separately illegal.
Leave and accommodations
Eligible employees may take protected family or medical leave under CFRA/FMLA. Disability and pregnancy laws often require a good-faith interactive process and reasonable accommodations unless undue hardship is proven. Denying leave or punishing someone for using it can be its own claim.
How to use this handbook
Use it as a checklist of topics to raise in intake—not as a substitute for advice on your timeline. Pair it with the wrongful termination checklist and documentation FAQ.