Author: James W. Ward
Governor Newsom Signs New 2020 Employment Laws
Sunday, October 13, 2019, was the last day for Governor Gavin Newsom to either sign or veto legislation that the California Legislature passed in 2019….
New California FEHA Regulations ‘Clarify’ Definition of Employer
Heads up, employers — new Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) regulations are now effective. In June 2019, the Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC)…
Employees Cannot Recover Wages Under PAGA
The California Supreme Court recently determined that employees cannot recover unpaid wages on behalf of themselves and other aggrieved employees under the Private Attorneys General…
DOL Opinion: Using FMLA Leave to Attend Child’s Special Education Meetings
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently issued an opinion letter confirming that parents may take time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)…
ICE Heats Up Form I-9 Audits: What California Employers Need to Do If They Get a Notice
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued thousands of Form I-9 audit notices this summer. As ICE worksite enforcement continues to increase, California employers need…
California Emergency Wildfire Smoke Regulation Now in Effect
On July 29, 2019, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board’s emergency regulation to protect outdoor workers from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke…
Need to Reimburse Restaurant Employees for Non-Slip Black Shoes? Court Says No
When must employers reimburse employees’ expenses? It depends, of course, on the circumstances. As previously reported, some employees submit unusual and even hilarious expense reports…
Ninth Circuit Rejects Nike’s De Minimis Argument for Security Screenings
Even if an off-the-clock task, such as an exit inspection, is less than a minute, the de minimis principle likely does not apply under California…
California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Hairstyle
On July 3, Governor Gavin Newsom made California the first state to ban racial discrimination based on hairstyle. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)…
Recent NLRB Advice on Employer Policies, Arbitration Agreements
On June 14, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Office of the General Counsel released two advice memoranda addressing common employment policies and arbitration agreements….
