Author: Matthew J. Roberts, Esq.

1483
Posted in Workplace Policies

Ninth Circuit Panel Will Rehear Arguments on California’s Mandatory Arbitration Ban

After several recent arbitration agreement legal decisions, are you still confused about California’s arbitration agreements in employment? Good news — you’re not the only one,…

1887
Posted in Hiring

Applicant with Criminal History? Follow Process Before Revoking Offer

We ran a criminal background check on a prospective new employee and the check revealed some criminal history. Can we choose to revoke the job…

1421
Posted in Alternative Workweek

Flexible Schedules Can Create Wage, Hour Pitfalls for Employers

Remote working during the pandemic provided quite a bit of flexibility for both employers and employees. Now that we’re in a period of relative stability…

1453
Posted in Compensation

Ninth Circuit Requests Help From CA Supreme Court Again

On July 8, 2022, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals certified three questions to the California Supreme Court to assist it with ruling whether a…

1951
Posted in Privacy Workplace Safety

A Look at Drug Testing, Privacy Rights, Last Chance Agreements

My employee provided a doctor’s note for recent time off that included information that he was out due to “cocaine poisoning.” With this information, can…

2928
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

Take Three: Cal/OSHA Revises COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for Third Time

On April 21, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) approved a third readoption of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health…

4459
Posted in Harassment

Harassment Outside of Work? Employer Still Must Respond to Complaint

One of my supervisors just reported to me that they received complaints about harassment from a coworker but did not report them to us because…

1618
Posted in Alternative Workweek

Child Care Issues Can Prompt Move to Create Alternative Schedule

My hourly employee asked for a flexible schedule where she would work four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days due to child care issues….

7151
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Time Off

Governor Signs Bill Establishing COVID-19 Supplement Sick Leave for 2022

As previously reported, the California Legislature recently proposed new COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) for most of 2022. On February 7, the proposal passed…

3268
Posted in Benefits COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

California Legislature Proposes COVID-19 Supplement Sick Leave for 2022

In 2021, the California Legislature passed a paid sick leave law that supplemented the existing state paid sick leave law — it required employers with…