Celebrating Transgender Visibility: A Day to Recognize, Support, and Empower
Every March 31st, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). Trans Day of Visibility 2024 serves not only to celebrate the lives and contributions of transgender and non-binary individuals but also to raise awareness of the challenges they face. Here at Matern Law Group, we stand firmly in support of the transgender community and […]
California’s Parental Leave Laws: A Guide for New and Expecting Parents
California boasts some of the most comprehensive parental leave laws in the United States. This guide is designed to provide new and expecting parents with a clear understanding of their rights and available programs. California’s Parental Leave Programs California Family Rights Act (CFRA): Available to employees working for companies with five or more employees, employees […]
Know Your Worth: Understanding Your Rights Under the Equal Pay Act
The fight for equal pay is an ongoing battle, and for many women in the workforce, the wage gap is a persistent reality. At Matern Law Group, we believe in ensuring fair treatment for all employees. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963 is a crucial piece of legislation that protects workers from unequal pay […]
The Long Shadow of Dred Scott: How a 19th Century Case Still Impacts California Workplaces in 2024
For most Californians, the name Dred Scott evokes a distant historical echo, a relic of a bygone era. However, the impact of the infamous 1857 Supreme Court decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford continues to resonate in many areas, including the workplace. Understanding this connection helps us all work towards justice in the workplace. What […]
Stand Up for Equality: Matern Law Group Joins the Fight Against Discrimination on March 1st
Every year on March 1st, the world stands together for Zero Discrimination Day. This year, as we mark the 10th anniversary of this crucial initiative, Matern Law Group proudly joins the fight against discrimination in all its forms. As a law firm dedicated to representing plaintiffs in California, we see firsthand the devastating impact discrimination […]
What Can a Workplace Discrimination Lawyer Do for You in California?
Being undermined is one of the most disheartening feelings you can experience in the workplace. If such an incident is due to factors beyond your control, like your sex, gender, or nationality, then it even becomes illegal. Are you currently experiencing such a situation and would you like to know what you can do about […]
Supporting Veterans in the Workplace
As veterans navigate the transition from military service to civilian employment, they may face unique challenges that require legal advocacy. The employment landscape for veterans has evolved significantly over the years. Federal and State laws, such as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and the California Military and Veterans Code, are in […]
Celebrating Pride Month: Advancing Workplace Equality for the LGBTQ+ Community
Pride Month is an annual celebration that honors the LGBTQ+ community’s achievements and promotes the ongoing fight for equality. While significant progress has been made over the years, there are still challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in the workplace. Matern Law Group, a leading employment law firm representing plaintiffs in California, stands strong in […]
Matern Law Group Celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of AAPI people in the United States. This year’s theme is “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration.” A Brief History of AAPI Heritage Month AAPI Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter designated the first […]
Exercising Your Rights to Religious and Federal Holidays from Work
Religious holidays Taking time off work for religious holidays can be a complicated matter, as it often involves balancing the needs and obligations of one’s faith with the requirements and expectations of one’s job. In the United States, federal law provides certain protections for employees who need to take time off for religious observances. The […]
Facing Failure to Hire Discrimination
Could you be a victim of failure to hire? Finding the right candidate can be challenging for employers, but some companies employ unfair hiring practices as they assess and interview applicants. Fortunately, both federal and state protections exist to shield workers from discriminatory practices during and after the interview process. Review the facts about failure […]
Were You Affected by Hiring Discrimination in California?
Federal and state laws provide protection against workplace discrimination for both current and prospective employees. Failure to hire is a type of discrimination that occurs during the hiring process when someone does not receive a job offer because they belong to a protected class. The Federal Equal Opportunity Commission enforces the various federal laws establishing […]
Female Tech Workers Sue Zendesk for Equal Pay and Equal Treatment
June 1, 2022 In September 2021, a woman filed suit against Zendesk after Matt Ingebrigtsen, Director of Enterprise Sales-West, announced on a videoconference, “We call your baby the million-dollar baby because you lost out on a million dollars of wages since you took a full maternity leave.” Today, three more women filed a lawsuit under […]
I AM my Hair!
A Discussion of Race-Based Hairstyle Discrimination and How the CROWN Act is a Necessary Response A person’s hairstyle can say a lot without them uttering a single word. Women, predominantly Black American women and children, face race-based hairstyle discrimination in the workplace, school, housing and in public in general solely based on their natural, inherited […]
Tesla Racial Discrimination Lawsuit Filed by Matern Law Group
Shanel Dickson was the only African-American and the only female on her solar roofing crew. In July 2021, her Caucasian supervisor began calling her “nigga” and made other derogatory racial and sexual comments. She was also denied work duties and privileges that were afforded to men. Inside the warehouse was no better. On one occasion, […]
“Million Dollar Baby” – Pregnant Worker Files Discrimination Lawsuit against Zendesk
September 29, 2021 “We call your baby the million-dollar baby because you lost out on a million dollars of wages since you took a full maternity leave,” chided Zendesk Director Matt Ingebrigtsen on a team video conference. This was just one of many harassing comments hurled at his female subordinate after learning that she was […]
The Next COVID-19 Employment Litigation Hotbeds
Soon, the lawsuits that have made up the bulk of coronavirus-related litigation thus far — primarily concerning safety and wrongful termination — will give way to wage, discrimination and other related claims. While the suits filed so far reflect workers’ main concerns in the early days of the pandemic, as more businesses and courts open […]
Undocumented Farmworkers in the Time of COVID-19
As Americans shelter in place, washing hands and staying six feet away from each other, farmworkers carpool to get groceries then retreat to cramped, crowded quarters, sleeping several to a room. They are not coronavirus deniers: The pandemic terrifies them. They simply have no choice; are compelled to work yet feel disposable. Two-thirds of the […]
Pantoja v. Anton and Its Impact on “Me-Too” Evidence
The information on this website and blog does not constitute legal advice. The “me-too” evidence doctrine permits a plaintiff to proffer evidence of discrimination, not only against himself or herself, but also against other persons who are similarly situated. In Johnson v. United Cerebral Palsy/Spastic Children’s Foundation of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, an employee who […]
