As long as the severance is paid in a lump sum, is intended to recognize past years of service, or otherwise doesn't extend the person's employment with the company, it won't affect unemployment eligibility.
California wage and hour laws are much more protective of employees than the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under FLSA, companies are required to pay overtime only to employees who work more than 40 hours a week.
"Prima facie" is a Latin term that means "on its face" or "at first glance." In court, a litigant makes a prima facie case by presenting evidence that, if believed, would be sufficient to support the allegations in the lawsuit.
Employees who are eligible for overtime -- those who are not exempt under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or their state's law -- are entitled to pay for every overtime hour their employer "suffers or permits" them to work. This standard can be tough to interpret.
Oral employment contracts are simply contracts that are spoken and agreed to aloud rather than reduced to writing. It's common for employers and employees to enter into short oral contracts at the start of the employment relationship.
Employers tend to gather a lot of paperwork on employees, from employment applications and resumes to benefits forms, performance evaluations, disciplinary documentation, contact information, and even medical records.
No federal law protects employees from discrimination based on obesity or weight per se; only one state (Michigan) and a handful of local governments provide this protection.
When you leave your job, whether you quit, are fired, or are laid off, you are entitled to receive all of the compensation you have already earned. State laws determine how much time the employer has to get you your final paycheck.
In every state, employers are free to ban smoking at work. Some are required to do so by law; others choose to have a smoke-free workplace to protect the safety and health of employees and customers.