Author: James W. Ward
New 2026 Labor and Employment Laws
Yesterday, the annual legislative cycle concluded as California Governor Gavin Newsom signed or vetoed the last legislative bills sent to him. The Governor acted on…
Employer Didn’t Violate Title VII When It Denied Vaccine Accommodation
Recently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court ruling for Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR), finding it didn’t violate Title VII…
California Supreme Court Clarifies Good-Faith Defense to Unpaid Wage Claims
Typically, employees who prove minimum wage violations are entitled to liquidated damages. Recently though, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion clarifying employers’ good-faith defense…
DOJ Issues DEI Compliance Guidance
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a memorandum to all federal agencies providing guidance for federal-funding recipients on applying federal antidiscrimination laws to…
Ministerial Exception Applied to Religious Employer’s Customer Services Representatives
Recently, the Ninth Circuit took a broad view of the First Amendment’s protection of religious organizations, concluding that a religious employer’s customer service representatives (CSR)…
California Court Clarifies Paid Sick Leave Calculation for Outside Sales Employees
A recent California Court of Appeal decision clarifies how employers may calculate paid sick leave for exempt outside salespersons under California’s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families…
California’s 2026 Minimum Wage Increases to $16.90 Per Hour
On August 1, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage will increase to $16.90 per hour…
OFCCP Updates for Federal Contractors
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently proposed regulatory changes that will wind down federal contractor affirmative action programs under now-rescinded Executive Order…
Keeping Up with Compliance at One-Year Anniversary of Workplace Violence Prevention Law
July 1, 2025, marked the one-year anniversary of SB 553, California’s comprehensive workplace violence prevention law, which means employers must ensure that they complete the…
Model Crime Victims’ Leave Notice Released
While most of California’s revised and expanded crime victims’ leave requirements took effect on January 1, 2025, the notice provision didn’t go into effect until…
