Articles Discussing General Workplace Issues in California.

Summer is almost here!  With schools wrapping up their academic calendars, some high school students will soon be looking for summer jobs. And with the labor market as tight as it is, some employers who have not previously hired minors may be looking to do so to fill openings.

The underlying action, Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, was a class action brought by former and current employees, alleging violations of meal period violations. The plaintiffs sought not only premium wages for the violations but also waiting time penalties and penalties for failure to provide accurate wage statements. The results

In this episode, Jen talks about the California Legislature’s 4-day workweek proposal, and the practical impact if it becomes law.

On March 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana to decide whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) requires enforcement of a bilateral arbitration agreement providing that an employee cannot raise representative claims, including claims under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Over the last 12 months, many employees have started to return to work at a worksite other than their home, even though some remain remote or partially remote. Employers may need a refresher on commute time for employees.

Under the California Wage Orders, hours worked are defined as the time

By: California Minimum Wage Will Go to $15.50 in 2023 . . . and Could Go Higher

The California minimum wage is currently $15 an hour for employers of 25 or more employees and $14 an hour for all employers of less than 25 employees.  

California law says the state minimum

In 2017, California started its stair-step climb to a $15.00 minimum wage, allowing smaller businesses with 25 employees or less to raise their minimum wage on a delayed schedule from larger businesses.  All employers regardless of size were scheduled to be at the same minimum wage of $15.00 per hour

California is considering new regulations on the use of technology or artificial intelligence (AI) to screen job candidates or make other employment decisions. If the regulations become law, California would be the first state to adopt substantive restrictions specifically addressing this emerging, and often misunderstood, technology.

In a recent decision, the California Court of Appeal held that the doctrine of exclusive concurrent jurisdiction applies to a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) representative action in Shaw v. The Superior Court of Contra Costa County. The decision is good news for employers facing overlapping PAGA complaints.

Underlying Facts

Register early for CDF’s next webinar scheduled for March 24. Dan M. Forman, Partner & Chair of CDF’s Trade Secret Practice Group, will present this timely topic on the “Consequences of No-Poach Agreements: Civil and Criminal.” In today’s tight recruiting market, business owners and managers must ensure they are not inadvertently crossing the boundaries of no-poach or no-hire agreements to avoid criminal and civil penalties

In this episode,  Jen chats with Tim Del Castillo, a respected litigator who represents both employers and employees.  Jen and Tim offer practical guidance on the most common employer mistakes and how to stay out of court.

Early in the 2022 Legislative Session, Assembly Bill (AB) 2932 was introduced and was known as the four-day workweek bill.  It sought to change when an employee would be paid one and one-half times their regular rate of pay by redefining the workweek.

Under current California law, overtime may be

San Francisco City and County District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón have filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court in San Francisco accusing the Potter Handy LLP law firm of filing thousands of “boilerplate, cut-and-paste federal-court lawsuits that falsely assert its clients have

In 2020, the California legislature considered a bill in which employers would be required to provide employees with bereavement leave, but the legislation didn’t make it to the Governor’s desk.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1949 reintroduces the idea of mandatory bereavement leave and expands the allowance from the 2020 proposal. AB

Since last week, when a Federal District Court in Florida struck down the Center for Disease Control’s Mask Mandate for public transportation, many local jurisdictions have announced an end to mask mandates. Indeed, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) removed transportation and transportation hubs from California’s Mask Mandate which previously had relied on the CDC’s order.