At the Leichter Law Firm, APC, the Los Angeles employment law attorney, Aryeh Leichter, knows California law requires an individual to live on the premises if a building has sixteen (16) or more units. This person is called a residential apartment manager.
Resident managers are always employees and cannot — by law — be classified as independent contractors. This distinction is important because it entitles the apartment manager to minimum wage requirements, overtime wages, rent reduction credits, and maximum rent caps, among other benefits and protections afforded to employees throughout the state.
However, even with the distinction and protections afforded California resident managers as full-time employees, they have significant workplace challenges that workers outside this industry may not that make them vulnerable to workplace violations.
One of those challenges is that they will report these matters to their boss if they have a valid complaint about the apartment — including potential safety violations — or legal concerns involving wage theft. The trouble is, their boss is often also their landlord.
This places apartment managers in a sticky retaliation predicament.
Here is why.
Residential Apartment Managers Can Lose Their Homes When They Lose Their Jobs
Residential apartment managers carry out various job duties, including but not limited to collecting rent, assisting tenants, facilitating repairs, and attending to emergencies in the building.
When they discover a workplace violation, like wage and hour issues that point to them not being appropriately paid, building safety concerns, or unlawful mistreatment at work, there is a growing unease among California apartment managers that reporting these worries could lead to being fired.
Because housing protections that apply to tenants do not usually apply to resident managers, in most instances, when they are fired, their landlord can evict them immediately.
Suppose you are a residential apartment manager in California, and your employer is using the threat of losing your housing to keep you from complaining about workplace mistreatment. In that case, the law protects you from this type of retaliation.
In addition, if you are fired for reporting a workplace hazard, incorrect pay, discrimination, or harassment, you may also have a wrongful termination claim to add to your retaliation complaint.
Please do not allow your employer to dictate which California employment laws apply to you simply because you live on the premises and have so much to lose by reporting their wrongdoing. You have rights, and the Leichter Law Firm can help you protect them.
Contact The Leichter Law Firm Retaliation Attorney for Help Today
No matter what the workplace violation may be, contact Aryeh Leichter, the Leichter Law Firm, APC founder and employment law attorney in Los Angeles County today to discuss the legal remedies that may be available for your unique workplace circumstances today, starting with a free consultation by calling 818-915-6624 or contacting the firm online.