California Employment Discrimination, Wage and Hour, and Consumer Law Resources
The following links and resources are provided by the Berkeley Law Office of Anthony J. Sperber for the benefit of individuals and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area seeking information on California labor and employment law, including disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation, as well as unpaid overtime and other wage and hour issues.
We hope these resources help you find the information you are looking for. If you need to speak with an attorney, please contact our office for a free consultation.
California Department of Fair Employment and Housing – DFEH is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. DFEH can help if you have been the victim of unlawful discrimination at work or in housing or public accommodations, or if you have been victimized by hate violence.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee on the basis of the person’s race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. The EEOC also protects people who have been discriminated or retaliated against for filing a charge or otherwise complaining about discrimination, or for participating in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit.
City & County of San Francisco Human Rights Commission – The SF HCR enforces local ordinances against employment and housing discrimination, which cover more areas of protected persons than either California or federal antidiscrimination laws. Visit their website to file a complaint online or learn more about local antidiscrimination laws in San Francisco.
ADA.gov – This website from the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, offers information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. Individuals and small businesses can access federal law and regulations on persons with disabilities, design standards for ensuring accessibility in construction or remodeling a business premises, technical assistance materials, and current enforcement activities.
California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement – DLSE, the Labor Commissioner’s Office, was established under the State of California Department of Industrial Relations to adjudicate wage claims, investigate discrimination and public works complaints, and enforce California Labor Code statutes and Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders. Visit their website to file a wage claim, labor law violation, or retaliation or discrimination complaint. You can also find information here about allowable wage deductions, paid sick leave and other important wage and hour issues.
California Employment Development Department – At the EDD website, you can file for unemployment or disability, or connect with resources to help you find a job. Employers can file and pay taxes online, or respond to UI or DI claims.
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division – DOL WHD enforces federal minimum wage and overtime laws established under the Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as other federal labor laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Workers visiting the site can learn how to file a complaint, and employers can find valuable resources such as required workplace posters and fact sheets on a variety of wage and hour topics.
California Public Employment Relations Board – The PERB is a quasi-judicial administrative agency charged with administering the collective bargaining statutes covering employees at California public schools and higher education institutions, state employees, and employees of local public agencies. Public employees can visit the PERB website to find out how to file an unfair practice charge (UPC) or search prior PERB decisions.
California Department of Consumer Affairs – DCA was established to protect and serve California consumers while ensuring a fair and competent marketplace. The Department also protects professionals from unfair competition by unlicensed practitioners. Consumers can file a complaint against a licensee or verify a professional’s license. DCA also maintains a library of consumer publications, licensee publications and legal guides.
