A recent decision from the California Court of Appeal concluded that a worker could not advance a pregnancy discrimination claim based on alleged mistreatment following egg retrieval and freezing procedures – but employers...more
Employers face significant new pregnancy accommodation requirements thanks to recent federal regulations under the Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) that took effect last month. But did you know that California employers...more
You may think of “magic mushrooms” as nothing but a novelty, but psychedelics like psilocybin are gaining popularity as a therapeutic mental health treatment – raising questions about their impact on the workplace. Are your...more
On the heels of a rare win for employers regarding COVID-19 liability, a California appellate court was quick to remind employers in the state that there’s no shortage of pandemic-related requirements still in place. This is...more
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that time spent booting up computers for call center employees at the beginning of their shift is integral and indispensable to their work and thus compensable under federal...more
California Governor Newsom just signed into law a bill that further expands state family and paid sick leave by allowing employees to take protected time off to care for to include a “designated person.” AB 1041, signed into...more
With the Consumer Price Index recently showing the largest spike in 30 years, California employers need to brace themselves and prepare for the minimum-wage hikes going into effect in several cities across the state on July...more
On the heels of the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) updated isolation and quarantine guidance reducing the length of time an individual must isolate after contracting COVID-19 and the quarantine period for those exposed...more
1/5/2022
/ Cal-OSHA ,
CDPH ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Masks ,
New Guidance ,
Quarantine ,
Sick Employees ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
California was one of the first states to pass a pandemic paid sick leave requirement for employers – but now that the leave obligations are about to expire, employers are bound to have questions. SB 95 went into effect on...more
After a rollercoaster meeting Thursday where it originally voted down the proposed revisions, Cal/OSHA’s Standards Board eventually adopted proposed revisions to the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that will establish...more
6/7/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Housing ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Exclusions ,
Exemptions ,
Health and Safety ,
Masks ,
Notice Requirements ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Required Documentation ,
Sick Employees ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
After months of calls for modification to Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), California is about to adopt significant changes to the standard in light of the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the...more
5/19/2021
/ Cal-OSHA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Housing ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Exclusions ,
Exemptions ,
Health and Safety ,
Masks ,
Notice Requirements ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Sick Employees ,
Social Distancing ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Employers in California have been clamoring for changes to workplace health and safety COVID-19 standards as a result of the growing numbers of employees who are fully vaccinated. Recent updated guidance from the California...more
COVID-19 vaccinations passed the 200-million mark in the United States last week, which means certain workforces might have the majority of employees fully vaccinated. In recent months, we’ve discussed guidance from the EEOC...more
While many might be celebrating the first set of public health recommendations that permit relaxed safety standards for fully vaccinated people, employers should not be automatically changing their current safety practices as...more
Citing the uncertainty surrounding the state of the law when it comes to offering incentives to employees who receive the COVID-19 vaccination, a collection of over 40 business groups and associations just submitted a letter...more
There is no doubt the summer of 2020 has been memorable, but likely not for overseas jaunts or exotic vacations. Although the CDC recently relaxed its COVID-19 guidance regarding quarantine after travel, it still recognizes:...more
9/3/2020
/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employment Policies ,
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
Paid Leave ,
Quarantine ,
Return-to-Work Agreements ,
Sick Employees ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Travelers ,
Traveling Employee ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
California Governor Gavin Newsom just released a 32-page COVID-19 Employer Playbook providing additional guidance for California employers related to COVID-19 and safe re-opening. Though the July 24 Playbook provides a...more
7/28/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Governor Newsom ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Paid Leave ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sick Leave ,
Workplace Illness and Injury Reporting ,
Workplace Safety
As many California employers are still reeling from the impacts of the pandemic, employers need to brace themselves and prepare for the minimum wage hikes going into effect in several cities across the state as of July 1,...more
A California state court just created a controversy for those employers in the state that provide unlimited vacation policies for their exempt workers, holding that in some such instances you may need to pay out vacation time...more