San Bernardino Workplace Retaliation: Understanding the 90-Day Presumption
Employees who speak up about illegal conduct, unsafe working conditions, wage violations, discrimination, or other workplace concerns may face retaliation from an employer. Retaliation does not always mean termination. It can include demotion, reduced hours, undesirable reassignment, exclusion from opportunities, or sudden negative performance treatment. For employees in San Bernardino, California law provides important protections. Senate Bill 497 created a rebuttable presumption of retaliation when certain adverse employment actions occur within 90 days of protected activity. This can make the timing between a complaint and an adverse action particularly important when evaluating a potential claim. Employees should preserve emails, text messages, pay records, performance reviews, termination notices, and other documents that establish what happened and when. A clear timeline can help demonstrate the relationship between protected activity and the employer's subsequent conduct. U...