Your Rights During a Natural Disaster

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent devastation across Los Angeles.

We’re dedicating this newsletter to sharing actionable information for all workers on what to do during a natural disaster, resources for our community members affected by the fires, and ways you can support all involved.

We’re here to stand with you, and together, we’ll work toward recovery.

-Hannah and the STS Team 💚

Should You Work During a Natural Disaster?

“We will not be closing,”

That’s what a worker’s boss told her when she arrived at her job as a Sales Associate at a boutique store on Rodeo Drive. Despite smoke in the air, other stores around them closed, and the area empty of shoppers, her boss stated that if the mall was open, they should be, too.

Then, there was the Amazon worker who was filmed delivering packages without proper respiratory protection while homeowners on that street evacuated to safety.

For some employers like this boutique store owner and Amazon, people do not come before profit, and these decisions can have legal and life-threatening repercussions (it was only last September that six workers died at a plastics factory due to flooding from Hurricane Helene).

Here’s what all workers should know if they’re affected by a natural disaster and how to protect themselves:

• According to OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), employers MUST protect employees from unreasonable danger in the workplace.

• OSHA and the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act) both give employees the right to refuse to work in conditions they believe are unsafe.

To be clear, unsafe work conditions don’t mean you have to wait for fire to reach your front door. It includes bad quality air, lack of PPE, improper lighting, and blocked safety exits, to name a few.

Please remember: no job is EVER worth your life. Always put your safety first!

And if you find yourself in a situation where your employer retaliates against you for protecting yourself, these legal remedies are available to you:

• File a retaliation/discrimination complaint with the State of California

• File a workplace safety complaint with California’s OSHA branch

• The State of California is offering disaster unemployment assistance to help people and businesses receive fast-tracked unemployment benefits.

• The Small Business Administration is offering disaster assistance through multiple loans for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes.

• Guitar Center’s replacement instrument program is offering emergency grants to replace lost equipment and instruments.

• Farmers and Ranchers affected by the disaster can apply for emergency farm loans to cover up to $500,000 of production and property losses.

• Don’t be re-victimized ⚠️ Read more about common fraud and scams to watch for here.

One last thing 💚 Our friends at Course Studio (the brilliant minds who built our website) are raising money and matching all donations up to $3,000 for LA firefighters and the LA Regional Food Bank. If you’re financially able, please consider donating. Thank you!