Where do you work?
Your rights depend on your state. Pick yours to see general information about the law there.
California guides
Know what you're owed.
Plain-English guides from a firm that only represents employees.
Wrongful Termination
When being let go crosses the line into something illegal.
Unpaid Wages & Overtime
Missing overtime, breaks and pay, and what you can recover.
Discrimination
Treated differently because of who you are is against the law.
Sexual Harassment
From a supervisor, a co-worker or a customer. The law protects you.
Retaliation
Punished for speaking up, filing a complaint or reporting a violation.
Family & Medical Leave
Time off for your health or your family, with your job protected.
Workers' Compensation
Hurt on the job. Medical care and benefits, under one roof with your employment case.
Benefits & ERISA
Denied disability claims, pensions and retirement plan disputes.
Why your state matters
Same firing. Different deadlines.
When you're fired, the date your final paycheck is due depends on where you work.
California
Immediately
Minnesota
Immediately upon written demand
Oregon
By the end of the next business day
Washington
By the end of the pay period
Illinois
By the next scheduled payday
New York
By the next scheduled payday
General rules for when an employer ends a job, not legal advice. Details vary. Our attorneys are licensed only in California, and the other states are shown for general information only. In California, late final pay can mean added penalties for an employer. See California's final paycheck penalties.
Results matter
$200,000,000 resolved.
$5,150,000
Settlement. Work injury & wrongful termination (Hansen v. UPS)
$2,650,000
Settlement. Whistleblower retaliation & wrongful termination
$2,187,500
Settlement. Workplace injury & wrongful termination
$2,000,000
Jury verdict, 2025. Employment trial, San Bernardino County Superior Court
$1,950,000
Settlement. Pregnancy discrimination & wrongful termination
$1,100,000
Arbitration award. Associational disability discrimination & wrongful termination
Results depend on the facts of each case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
All resultsWe only represent employees
Your employer has lawyers. Now, so do you.
Employees First was founded with the idea of helping people, not corporations. We have served California workers since 2012.
- Built for trial. We build every case like it's going to court, and defense firms know it.
- Insider strategy. Led by a former in-house corporate lawyer, we know how the other side thinks.
- All-in-one legal team. Employment law and workers' comp under one roof.
Jonathan P. LaCour, CEO · Senior Trial Counsel. Super Lawyers 2026–2027. Rising Stars 2020–2025.
How it works
Three steps to your side of the table.
I
Free, no-obligation consultation
We review your situation and give you a real analysis of the legal merits of your claim. If we can't help, we'll tell you up front and help you find someone who can.
II
Retaining the firm
If we take your case, we send you a retainer agreement. Once it's signed, we're your law firm. No attorney-client relationship exists before then.
III
We go to work
We work on contingency: our fee is a percentage of what we recover for you. How case costs are handled is spelled out in your written fee agreement.
The client portal
Your case, on your phone.
Built in-house by Employees First, not off-the-shelf software. See where your case stands, step by step, along with your upcoming dates and the documents your team shares with you.
- Sign in with a 6-digit code we text you. No password.
- No app to download.
- Send your team files and messages.
- Every screen in English and Spanish.
Not yet available
Beyond California.
No attorney at this firm is licensed in these states today. If you need help now, find a lawyer licensed in your state.
Talk to a lawyer who only works for employees.
For workers in California. Some deadlines in employment and workers' comp cases are short. Don't lose your rights to delay.