My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: CA
I am a consultant (paid to work at clients for contracts but full time employed by a consulting firm).
I was told I was extended through the end of the year 3 weeks ago. However, I have decided to quit and travel the world with my savings. I told my boss personally before submitting my resignation anywhere official, with an end date of November 20th, 2 weeks ago. He said he wasn't concerned that I would be able to continue working at the client until then. After all, I was extended all year.
A week later (last Friday) he told me he doesn't think there is work through the 20th at this client for me. I had already formally resigned to HR and other people above him at this time, with a date of November 20th, and therefore couldn't change the date if I wanted to. This was after getting his ok for the date to resign.
The way our company works is if you are not at a client, you are paid half your salary and considered "on the bench" until a new client comes along, and you work part time from the home office.
They are suggesting I can't be eliegible for that because I didn't work out a more advantageous date with them to resign, and they don't have bench work for me to justify it. They are pushing me to leave sooner.
However, do I not have a legal right to be paid by my employer for the time until my resignation date regardless of this? If they let me go sooner, they are firing me without cause, or laying me off, right?
My point is that just because my boss can't find enough billable hours for me until November 20th, that's his problem and my companies problem, not mine. They accepted the resignation date. They can't just let me go sooner can they?
Thanks for any help offered,

