employment lawyer

More training and safety needed for California wildfire prevention workers

California struggled with devastating wildfires in 2018. The state now faces the daunting task of figuring out how to manage its forests so that such large-scale disasters do not occur again in the future. While examining the bigger picture is necessary, an often overlooked issue is the safety of workers who do the difficult work of clearing brush and thinning forests.

According to the Sacramento Bee, federal data indicates the state’s wildlands management workers earned an average hourly wage of $10.16 in 2017, the lowest of all California jobs. In addition, many workers are immigrants who are at risk of exploitation. They may have to deal with language barriers and have little to no understanding of labor laws.

Along with being underpaid, workers lack adequate training for complex tasks that often involve working with specialized tools. As a result, they are left working in dangerous conditions where injuries and wage theft can be common. All employees, regardless of the type of work they do, are entitled to a safe workplace.

A lot can be done to improve the health, safety and overall working conditions of California wildlands management workers. First, the state can provide workers with essential resources and training so that they understand their rights. With this knowledge, they can ensure employers are enforcing labor laws even at remote worksites.

Workers should also be provided with protective equipment, which is necessary for safety in wildfire regions. They are exposed to numerous hazards long after fires have been put out and cleanup work has begun.

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wage theft lawyer

Wage Theft Is A Big Problem in the Fast-Food Industry, A Survey Finds

Wage theft can occur in any workplace, but it tends to happen more frequently in specific industries compared to others. A survey published in May 2022 revealed that wage theft is a…

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worker misclassification lawyer

Matco Tools To Pay 15.8 Million Dollars in a Misclassification Lawsuit

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. McCormack Law Firm is not involved in this class action. Worker misclassification remains a serious issue in California. When employers misclassify employees as independent…

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wage theft lawyer

Google Contractors Blame Recruiting Firm For Systemic Wage Theft

Silicon Valley tech companies have been in the news lately over accusations of gender discrimination, harassment, and toxic work environments. This time, Google is facing allegations that its contractors are subjected to…

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employee misclassification lawyer

Red Robin Assistant Manager Files Class Action Over Unpaid Overtime and Missed Breaks

California employees can be classified as exempt or non-exempt, and there are important differences between the two. Non-exempt workers receive overtime pay, meal breaks and paid rest breaks. Exempt workers, on the…

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