BUILDING SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES
California’s legislative session is in full-swing with a variety of bills introduced that could impact compliance and notice requirements for employers. A selection of these bills is below. It is early in the life span of these bills which an and often do change...
At its December 15, 2022 meeting, it is anticipated that the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (“OSHSB”) will vote on the pending “non-emergency” regulation relating to COVID-19 prevention. If the standard is approved, it will likely be...
While Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”) was set to expire on September 30, 2022, employers should be aware that on September 29, 2022, Governor Newsom signed AB 152 that would extend SPSL to the end of the year. (See Assembly Bill 152.) This bill does not...
On September 18, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2188 which amends California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act to prohibit discrimination in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment, or otherwise penalizing a person based on a person’s...
In April 2022, California’s Occupations Safety and Health Administration Standards Board readopted its emergency COVID-19 standard, meaning the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 regulations are effective through January 2023. This blog covered the proposed changes in a separate...
On June 9, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) announced an increase in the standard mileage rate used to calculate employee mileage reimbursement for the remainder of 2022. The IRS explained that the increase in the rate is because of the “recent gasoline...
In a recent 8-1 decision affecting California employers, the United States Supreme Court held that employees bringing suit against their employer for violations of the Labor Code under the Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”) can be compelled to arbitrate on an...
CDPH Update On April 6, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”), issued updated quarantine and isolation guidance and one of the most significant changes is that the guidance no longer requires quarantine of asymptomatic persons following exposure to...
On February 28, 2022, Governor Newsom signed an executive order which brings the Cal/OSHA ETS Regulations in-line with present CDPH masking requirements. The CDPH updated its guidance on February 28, 2021, making it a “strong recommendation” that unvaccinated...
On February 17, 2022, the Labor Commissioner’s Office released an FAQ relating to the requirements of the new COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”). That FAQ is available to be reviewed at the following link:...
The Labor Commissioner has published a poster relating to the notice requirements of the new COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave law. Employers should make this poster available to employees as soon as possible and post it in a conspicuous place in the workplace for...
On January 25, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that an agreement with the state legislature’s leadership had been reached to revive COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”). As California employers may recall, SPSL provided a substantial amount of leave (up to...
On January 13, 2022, the United States Supreme Court granted the petitioners applications to stay U.S. OSHA’s vaccine rule. The Court held as follows: "Applicants now seek emergency relief from this Court, arguing that OSHA’s mandate exceeds its statutory authority...
On January 6, 2022, Cal/OSHA updated its FAQ on the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to explain how the new California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Guidance on Quarantine and Isolation interacts. The CDPH is substantially different from the prior isolation...
6th Circuit Dissolves Injunction: Fed. OSHA’s Mandate is Effective…For Now. On December 17, 2021, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeal dissolved the 5th Circuit’s injunction with respect to U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s employer vaccine mandate. ...
On December 13, 2021 during a press conference, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary indicated that a new, indoor mask mandate would be in-place effective Wednesday, December 15, 2021 and lasting until January 15, 2021. Later in the afternoon, the...
On November 4, 2021, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration released an unpublished version of the language to be submitted for the Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) concerning vaccination and testing. It also created...
Employers should be aware that the expiration deadline for the COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) entitlement is September 30, 2021. The statute states that employees taking SPSL at the time of expiration are permitted to take the full amount of their SPSL...
On September 17, 2021, Cal/OSHA issued proposed language for a permanent COVID-19 hazard standard. The “permanent” aspect of the rule may be limited to 2-3 years after its adoption. The existing COVID-19 Prevention Plan standard is a temporary standard and requires...
Despite being in the same company, each employee can have varying qualifications and responsibilities, potentially affecting the value of their wages. Compensation can be challenging to discuss, especially when some employees feel adversely affected by specific...
Management could be crucial in maintaining consistency among employment decisions. Keeping uniformity could protect employers from retaliation or discrimination complaints. Any inconsistencies could make employees question the basis of their decisions, possibly...
California state statutes and also federal rules prohibit harassment of all sorts in the workplace. Employees should not face abuse based on their sex, race or other protected characteristics. Jokes at the expense of older adults and those with disabilities, hostile...
In a decision made in May of 2023, California Supreme Court extended whistleblower protection by clarifying what constituted the act of disclosing information to an employer. Defining disclosure The decision was in connection to a complaint filed by a nightclub...
Growing businesses thrive when they have efficient and happy employees. Employees work best when they are under the right conditions and believe the company cares for them. One of the ways businesses can help their employees perform is by providing reasonable...
How to prevent a wrongful termination claim It is understandable for a person to be upset after losing their job, yet an employer must do what is best for the company. As the employer, you cannot overlook employees who hinder the growth and success of the business...
In any professional environment, ensuring a safe and respectful workplace is a legal obligation and a fundamental aspect of good business practice. Retaliation or any adverse action taken against an employee for engaging in legally protected activity violates this...
Running a company is no easy feat. It is not unheard of for a company to get into financial difficulties and be unable to pay its employees on time. However, employees are entitled to their wages, and failure to pay on time may result in legal repercussions. Not...
The Covid 19 pandemic has driven businesses into a new era of remote work. We see how technology businesses adapt to the new normal of working from home. While this setup has advantages, it has created new challenges for companies in protecting their trade secrets....
Employees have the right to file a complaint if they believe their employer is violating the law or engaging in unethical practices. How the company responds to these complaints is crucial in preventing additional retaliation charges. If you or a supervisor at your...