Governor Newsom signed into law a plethora of bills that significantly expand the rights of employees in California, although notably vetoing a bill that would have prohibited caste discrimination. Most of the new laws take...more
10/31/2023
/ Arbitration ,
California ,
Cannabis Products ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Diversity ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Policies ,
Fast-Food Industry ,
FEHA ,
Healthcare ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Involuntary Reduction in Force ,
Labor Code ,
Layoffs ,
Minimum Wage ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Paid Leave ,
Recreational Use ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
Retaliation ,
Sick Leave ,
Startups ,
Venture Capital ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
Following recent decisions of the National Labor Relations Board, it is now nearly impossible for employers to make unilateral decisions consistent with past practices when negotiating a first contract and when negotiating a...more
Reimbursing employees for job-related expenses has become a hot-button issue with so many employees working remotely and even on-site employees communicating with their employers by way of their personal cell phones. The...more
In a recently issued decision—Bexar II—a divided National Labor Relations Board again reversed employer-friendly standards, this time granting expanded property access to the off-duty employees of a property owner's...more
On Monday, October 3, 2022, in Valley Hospital Medical Center II, the National Labor Relations Board reversed a 50-year-old precedent, ruling that employers violate the National Labor Relations Act by unilaterally ceasing to...more
Update Feb 18: This advisory has been updated to include the required notice to employees that must be posted in the workplace or otherwise disseminated to employees who work remotely.
On February 9, 2022, Governor...more
On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed a new Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) bill (SB 114) into law, which becomes effective on February 19, 2022. The new SPSL law will be codified in California Labor Code Sections...more
California employers whose employees become infected with COVID-19 while in the workplace and pass the infection to family members can be sued in civil court for resulting injuries suffered by third parties....more
California lawmakers continue to remake the employment landscape, enacting several new laws for 2022, including ones that change how employers handle separation agreements, workplace investigations, and workplace safety. Here...more
California lawmakers continue to remake the employment landscape, enacting several new laws for 2022, including ones that change how employers handle separation agreements, workplace investigations, and workplace safety. Here...more
California's Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) law, which provides for 80 hours of paid leave for employees dealing with various COVID-19-related issues, is set to expire on September 30, 2021. Absent legislative action or...more
Given the barrage of local, state, and federal COVID-19 legislation in 2020, California employers may be confused as to what to do now—in 2021—when employees test positive for COVID-19. Here is a five-step guide of what to do...more
2/18/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Notification Requirements ,
Sick Employees ,
Sick Leave ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
By any measure, 2020 presented novel, life-changing experiences for all of us. The resilience and focus required to endure the seemingly relentless wave of changes have helped to hone the skills of most workplaces and allowed...more
12/30/2020
/ Board of Directors ,
California ,
California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Reporting ,
Diversity ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Harassment ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Independent Contractors ,
Minimum Wage ,
OFCCP ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sick Leave ,
Wage and Hour
Employers in California and New York take note—important deadlines related to anti-harassment training requirements are fast approaching. These states require employers to provide almost all non-supervisor employees with...more
12/8/2020
/ Anti-Harassment Policies ,
California ,
Deadlines ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Harassment ,
LGBTQ ,
New York ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State Labor Laws ,
Title VII ,
Training Requirements
On September 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2257 (AB 2257), the eagerly anticipated “clean up” legislation revising Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5), California’s stringent independent contractor law. AB 5 wrote...more
On September 19, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a sweeping amendment to California's Family Rights Act (CFRA). Effective January 1, 2021, not only will CFRA apply to employers having as few as five employees, but...more
On September 9, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1867 which expands California employees' entitlement to COVID-19 paid sick leave (CPSL). The law parallels an executive order directed towards food...more
Update July 22: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Oakland's right to recall for laid-off hospitality workers. Oakland passed the Hospitality and Travel Worker Right to Recall Ordinance, giving...more
Oakland is poised to pass the Hospitality and Travel Worker Right to Recall Ordinance, giving recently laid off employees priority when businesses resume operations. These new obligations will survive bankruptcy proceedings...more
Update June 29: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Bay Area face covering requirements. Bay Area Counties have issued Health Orders mandating that persons wear face coverings when interacting in...more
Update June 04: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Bay Area face covering requirements. Bay Area Counties have issued Health Orders mandating that persons wear face coverings when interacting in...more
Update May 26: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Bay Area emergency paid sick leave. In response to COVID-19, California cities have begun to implement emergency paid sick leave ordinances to...more
Update May 21: This advisory has been updated to include the latest information on California COVID-19 paid sick leave laws, including those applicable to LA County.
This summary is for general information only. It is not...more
Update May 20: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Bay Area face covering requirements. Bay Area Counties have issued Health Orders mandating that persons wear face coverings when interacting in...more
Update May 15: This blog has been updated to reflect current guidance about Bay Area emergency paid sick leave. In response to COVID-19, California cities have begun to implement emergency paid sick leave ordinances to...more