Employment Law

Our attorneys are passionate about helping people whose rights have been violated. Get in touch with us today to learn about how we can help.

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Walnut Creek Employment Attorneys

Protecting the Rights of Employees in the Bay Area

You should be able to earn your paycheck in a way that is safe, fair, and lawful. As an employee working in the state of California, you are entitled to certain legal protections. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous employers will attempt to exploit employees’ lack of familiarity with their rights. Other employers may intimidate employees into not filing complaints when misconduct occurs.

If you believe your workplace rights have been violated or you have become involved in a dispute with your employer, our experienced Walnut Creek employment lawyers are ready to assist you. Get in touch with us to tell us about you case.

Contact us online or call (925) 332-1444 for a free case evaluation today. We offer our legal services in English and Spanish.

Employment Matters We Handle

How we approach your case will depend on the nature of the dispute or misconduct. In many types of employment matters, employees must file a claim with the California Department of Fair Housing and Employment (DFEH) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before they can sue their employers. These government agencies investigate complaints and may choose to pursue legal action on behalf of aggrieved employees. They may also choose not to pursue a case and instead provide employees with a Notice of Right to Sue. We know how to strategically work with government agencies and can help you efficiently navigate the claims process.

RESULTS THAT SPEAK FOR Themselves

Learn more about previous victories and successes for our clients.

$1,200,000 Settlement $1.2 Million Settlement for Sexual Assault Victim
$1,355,000 Settlement $1.35 Million Settlement for Fired Whistleblower
$1,500,000 Settlement $1.5 Million Settlement for Wall Street Age Discrimination Victim
$1,450,000 Settlement $1.65 Settlement Sexual Harassment Case
$1,800,000 Settlement $1.8 Million Settlement for Racial Discrimination Victims
$2,300,000 Settlement $2.3 Million Settlement for Sexually Harassed Employees

View All Results

Our Bay Area attorneys can assist you with cases involving:

Breaches of Employment Contracts. When you are hired as an employee, you will almost always be asked to sign a contract as a condition of employment. It is often wise to have a legal professional review the substance of these employment agreements to ensure you are comfortable with its terms. Your employer is legally obligated to honor the terms of the contract once all parties have signed, including any stipulations about compensation, job responsibilities, and conditions of termination. We can help you explore your legal options when your employer violates a provision of your employment agreement.
Defamation. Your professional reputation is a valuable asset that must be fiercely protected. Attacks on your character and damaging rumors may make it more difficult to advance or secure new employment opportunities. Defamation is a form of unlawful discrimination, and our team can help you recover compensation from parties that have inappropriately tarnished your character. We will also work to repudiate baseless claims that may be negatively impacting background checks, reference checks, and performance reviews.
Discrimination. California expands federal anti-discrimination protections and prohibits employment decisions made on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, genetic information, medical condition, disability, military or veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy status, or age (if over 40). Our firm can represent you if you have been harassed, excluded, denied advancement opportunities, retaliated against, or wrongfully terminated on discriminatory grounds.
Employment Arbitration. Many employers now require new hires to forgo their right to sue in the event of unlawful conduct and instead agree to resolve any allegations through arbitration. Arbitration is handled extremely differently than litigation, and a neutral third party – the “arbitrator” – will hear arguments and ultimately decide the case. Our team can determine if the arbitration clause in your employment agreement is enforceable. We are familiar with how employment law matters are handled in arbitration and can work to aggressively protect your interests if this type of conflict resolution is unavoidable.
Severance Agreements. When you are leaving a job, your employer may ask you to sign a severance agreement. This arrangement typically offers monetary compensation in exchange for your giving up certain rights. You should never sign a severance agreement without first consulting an experienced legal professional. Provisions of these contracts may substantially impact your ability to find new employment or pursue future legal action against your former employer. We can work to protect your interests by negotiating the terms of the agreement and helping you understand the implications of signing.

Sexual Assault. Perpetrators of sexual assault are often tried criminally and can be incarcerated if convicted. In many cases, survivors can also pursue civil legal action and attempt to recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages from their assailants. Depending on the circumstances, survivors can also sue additional parties whose negligence allowed the assault to occur. Employees will sometimes file lawsuits against their employers for failing to take reasonable measures to protect their workers from sexual misconduct. Our firm can represent survivors, evaluate the liability of all involved parties, and seek the appropriate legal remedies.
Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment can occur in the workplace when an employee is subject to a hostile work environment or presented with a quid pro quo. If you are being forced to deal with inappropriate comments, unwanted touching, or any other type of behavior that makes you uncomfortable, we can explore your legal options and assist you throughout each step of the claims process.
Unlawful Retaliation. Federal and state laws protect you from adverse actions when you “blow the whistle,” refuse to perform unlawful tasks, stand up to discriminatory behavior, report misconduct, participate in a government investigation, or request accommodations. If you are punished for participating in a protected activity, our team can help you file a claim and pursue legal action.
Unpaid Wages. Your employer must fairly pay you for all hours worked, including applicable overtime compensation. Our firm regularly handles claims involving misclassification, refusal to pay remote work, and other common wage violations.
Whistleblower Issues. Employees who report unlawful conduct to the appropriate authorities often face repercussions from their employers. Employers cannot discriminate or retaliate against you for blowing the whistle, and our team can help you enforce your rights in these delicate scenarios.
Wrongful Termination. Though California is an “at-will” state, an employer cannot fire or lay off an employee on discriminatory or retaliatory grounds. Employers also cannot provision of your employment contract that stipulates how and when you can be dismissed. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, we can review your legal options and potentially work to recover compensation for lost wages, future economic losses, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages.

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“Highly Recommend”
Highly recommend. Laid off without notice by a shady Pre IPO lender in San Francisco. No one was given severance and they hired a labor attorney ahead of the layoffs to try and get around paying severance and warn notice. Without this firm taking my case, I would have never received a dime. Do not let a lay off without any severance deter you, contact this firm. Odd thing was 1 letter from this firm and severance was immediately offered. It's a game these high-tech companies are playing and gambling on. Their bet is 98% will not do anything severance and for the small percent that do, the amount to pay versus provided all in the layoff, is pennies on the dollar. Get your documentation, all emails, take photos of slack messages, record any zoom calls where there is a statement " no one is getting laid off" and so forth. Records any zoom calls where you are laid off. Take notes. Protect yourself and family. Working all the holidays and 12-hour days to be let go with nothing, is ridiculous. Use this firm and provide all your documentation. Good Luck!

- J.C.
“Extremely Satisfied”
I was referred to Ratner Molineaux after my daughter and I suffered injury and property damage resulting from a defective product in our home. During my very first conversation with David Ratner, I found him to be straightforward, professional, and extremely responsive to my concerns. Thereafter, David took the time to walk us through each and every stage of the litigation process and was an excellent advocate for my daughter and I. He remained fiercely protective of our interests and represented us well during mediation, preparation for trial, and settlement talks. David's style is very direct and to the point, which might be off putting for some, but worked well for me since I tend to be laser focused when dealing with business matters. Near the conclusion of my case, I had the opportunity to meet his partner Shelley, who had also diligently and effectively assisted with our litigation. In the end, our result was more than adequate, and both my daughter and I walked away extremely satisfied with both the representation we'd received, and the outcome of our claim. I definitely recommend this firm.

- D.M.
“Professional opinion and experienced perspective”
reached out to Ratner Molineaux after a previous attorney referral did not follow through despite the time sensitivity of my issue. The Ratner Molineaux team responded quickly to schedule a consultation on a work-related matter. David Ratner reviewed my issues and provided options and great advice how I could proceed. It was great peace of mind to have a professional opinion and experienced perspective. The consultation with David Ratner gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to make my final decision.

- L.C.
“Great guidance and quick resolution”
David and team provided great guidance and quick resolution to my matter. I appreciated David's willingness to listen and the team’s responsiveness. I highly recommend them and will definitely call them again in the future if needed.

- J.K.
“Kind compassionate service”
Highly recommend. Prompt response and kind compassionate service with a difficult employment situation.

- J.F.
“Really great to work with”
David and Hanna were really great to work with. David took the time to educate me, provided service, and gave me the support I needed to start representing my own interests. Highly recommend this group.

- Q.N.
“Outstanding”
David and Shelley were outstanding to work with. I really appreciated their professionalism as well as their ability to guide me though difficult decisions regarding my case. I'd recommend them to anyone!

- J.D.
“Thank you all for your help!”
David, Shelley, Hanna and Halsey did an amazing job with helping me with my case. They truly made it an easy experience and I’m greatly appreciative of their efforts and all their hard work. Thank you all for your help!

- H.A.

Call Now to Request a Consultation

Our team at Ratner Molineaux is extensively familiar with labor and employment law at the state and federal levels and has been involved in hundreds of jury trials. No matter your situation, we can provide the aggressive and intelligent representation you deserve.

Call (925) 332-1444 now to speak with an experienced legal team about your situation.

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