Author: James W. Ward

Reminder: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Regulations Start June 18
3251
Posted in Discrimination

Reminder: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Regulations Start June 18

On April 19, 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published its final rule implementing the 2023 federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). And on…

Good Faith Defense Upheld for Wage Statement Penalties
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Posted in Compensation Meal and Rest Break

Good Faith Defense Upheld for Wage Statement Penalties

In a win for employers, the California Supreme Court recently held that if an employer reasonably and in good faith believed it was providing a…

Lateral Job Transfer Can Be Discriminatory Under Federal Law
2519
Posted in Discrimination

Supreme Court Says Lateral Job Transfer Can Be Discriminatory Under Federal Law

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision holding that a lateral job transfer can be discriminatory under Title VII when the transfer brought some…

Stock Options Are Not “Wages” in California
2554
Posted in Compensation

Stock Options Are Not “Wages” in California

In startup businesses, it’s not uncommon for employees to accept less cash compensation in exchange for stock options — the option to buy the company…

Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Regulations Approved
3724
Posted in Discrimination

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) Regulations Approved

On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will publish its final rule implementing the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) — a…

Fast Food Minimum Wage Law Exceptions Added
2045
Posted in Compensation

Fast Food Minimum Wage Law Exceptions Added

On March 25, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 610 (AB 610) — an urgency measure effective upon signing — that creates additional exceptions to…

Cal/OSHA Standards Board Adopts Indoor Heat Illness Standard in Questionable Vote
3107
Posted in Heat Illness

Cal/OSHA Standards Board Adopts Indoor Heat Illness Standard in Questionable Vote

After some twists and turns, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) recently voted to adopt its proposed indoor heat illness standard. The vote’s…

California Supreme Court Clarifies ‘Hours Worked’ Questions
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Posted in Compensation Meal and Rest Break

California Supreme Court Clarifies ‘Hours Worked’ Questions

Recently, the California Supreme Court answered the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ certified wage-and-hour questions, determining, among other things, that the time workers spend in…

Model Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, Resources
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Posted in Workplace Safety

Cal/OSHA Publishes Model Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, Resources

Last year, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 553, creating a new general industry workplace violence prevention standard. As previously reported, effective July 1,…

Wearing “Black Lives Matter” On Uniform Can Be Protected Activity Under NLRA
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Posted in Labor Relations

Wearing “Black Lives Matter” On Uniform Can Be Protected Activity Under NLRA

On February 21, 2024, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision that an employer violated federal law when it directed an employee to…