(Podcast) California Employment News: Starting a Workplace Investigation – Part 1 (Featured)
California Employment News: Starting a Workplace Investigation – Part 1 (Featured)
Feeling the Heat: Strategies to Keep Cool Under California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act — The Consumer Finance Podcast
The JustPod: Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing: A Discussion with Hillary Blout
(Podcast) California Employment News: Back to the Basics of Employee Pay Days
California Employment News: Back to the Basics of Employee Pay Days
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 503: Listen and Learn -- Present and Future Estates (Part 2)
Law School Toolbox Podcast Episode 501: Listen and Learn -- Present and Future Estates (Part 1)
(Podcast) California Employment News: Fair Chance Act – A Brief Overview of Employment Criminal Background Checks
California Employment News: Fair Chance Act – A Brief Overview of Employment Criminal Background Checks
REFRESH Nonprofit Basics: Insider Transactions and Nonprofits
(Podcast) California Employment News: Breaking Down Los Angeles’ Fair Work Week Ordinance
California Employment News: Breaking Down Los Angeles’ Fair Work Week Ordinance
California Employment News: Taking Advantage of the PAGA Reform – How Employers Can Lower Their Risk of PAGA Liability
(Podcast) California Employment News: Taking Advantage of the PAGA Reform – How Employers Can Lower Their Risk of PAGA Liability
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 303: Listen and Learn -- Injunctions and Restraining Orders (Civ Pro)
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode The Aftermath of the February 2025 California Bar Exam
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 302: Listen and Learn -- More on Discovery (Civ Pro)
Bar Exam Toolbox Podcast Episode 301: Listen and Learn -- Professional Responsibility: Fee Agreements
California Employment News: Drug and Alcohol Policy Enforcement for In-Office and Remote Workers
In a significant win for employers, the California Court of Appeal recently affirmed that prospective, revocable meal period waivers for shifts between five and six hours are lawful under both the Labor Code and applicable...more
In a surprisingly employer-friendly decision, the California Court of Appeal recently held that voluntary, prospective written meal waivers for shorter shifts, i.e., those that are more than five but no more than six hours in...more
On April 21, 2025, a California Court of Appeal affirmed the validity of prospective, written meal period waivers, so long as they are revocable and not coerced. The case, La Kimba Bradsbery et al. v. Vicar Operating,...more
What is a “blanket” or “prospective” meal period waiver? California employers can offer non-exempt employees the opportunity to (1) waive their first meal period if their work period does not exceed six hours or (2) waive...more
The California Labor Code generally requires that employers provide meal periods to non-exempt employees working more than five hours. However, the Labor Code provides that meal periods can be waived by agreement of the...more
In a significant ruling for employers, the California Court of Appeal has validated the use of “prospective” meal period waivers, allowing workers to voluntarily waive their meal breaks in advance, under certain conditions....more
The recent changes to California’s wage and hour laws have significant implications for employers operating within the state. While the reforms are aimed at providing clearer guidelines for employers, there are still complex...more
Wage and hour claims—especially under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and class action lawsuits—continue to rise at an alarming rate. With more PAGA notices filed than ever before and wage and hour class...more
In Stone v. Alameda Health System, the California Supreme Court considered whether all public entities that are not specifically governmental in nature are exempt from the obligations in the Labor Code such as meal and rest...more
On July 1, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two legislative bills (AB 2288, amending Labor Code Section 2699; and SB 92, amending Section 2699.3) into law, effective July 1, 2024. The new law significantly...more
In Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, the case’s second appearance before the California Supreme Court in two years, the Supreme Court confirmed that an employer does not incur civil penalties for failing to report unpaid...more
In Gramajo v. Joe’s Pizza on Sunset, Inc., Case Nos. B322992/B323024 (Cal. App. Mar. 25, 2024), the California Court of Appeal held that employees who win in court on a claim for minimum or overtime wages must be awarded at...more
On January 18, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued a highly anticipated decision in Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc., determining whether trial courts can dismiss Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims as...more
A Single Incident Of Harassing Conduct May Create A Hostile Work Environment - Beltran v. Hard Rock Hotel Licensing, Inc., 97 Cal. App. 5th 865 (2023) - Stephanie Beltran, a server at the Hard Rock Hotel in Palm...more
In the spirit of the season, we are using our annual "12 days of the holidays" blog series to address new California laws and their impact on California employers. On the tenth day of the holidays, my labor and employment...more
Certain employees can be exempt from overtime pay and meal and rest breaks under both the FLSA and California Labor Law. Meagan Bainbridge and Lukas Clary break down the basics of pay exemptions in part 1 of this 4-part...more
No Claim By Employee Who Was Friends With Alleged Harasser Atalla v. Rite Aid Corp., 2023 WL 2521909 (Cal. Ct. App. 2023) - Hanin Atalla and Erik Lund had a social relationship and became “close friends” before Atalla...more
As the health risks of the pandemic wind down, the complexities of offering remote work endure. Some employers are still offering full remote work, while others offer a hybrid to remain competitive and retain employees....more
Last summer, we reported here the California Supreme Court ruling that premium payments owed under Labor Code section 226.7 for meal and rest break violations constitute “wages.” The Naranjo et al. v. Spectrum Sec. Servs.,...more
California Labor Code now guarantees meal and rest breaks for public healthcare workers. In this episode of California Employment News, Meagan Bainbridge and Katie Collins review the details of the newly added Labor Code...more
On May 23, 2022, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Naranjo v. Spectrum Sec. Servs. Inc. (Naranjo), holding that meal and rest break premiums (also known as extra pay or premium pay) constitute “wages” that:...more
The California Supreme Court, on May 23, 2022, issued a seminal opinion in Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc., which found that employees can recover penalties for failure to timely pay wages at termination and...more
On May 23 2022, the California Supreme Court reversed the Second Appellate District Court of Appeal and made clear that meal and rest period premiums (or “extra pay” or “premium pay”) constitute “wages” and must be accurately...more