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Last Friday, Sept. 9, was the last day for the California House and Senate to pass bills. In the last-minute flurry of activity, a number of important employment-related measures made it to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk, and he now has until Oct. 9 to sign or veto the bills. Some of the important workplace measures now […]
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that for 45 days, until October 21, 2005, the I-9 employment eligibility verification rules will be relaxed for victims of Hurricane Katrina who are seeking jobs but can’t produce the required I-9 documentation. Many victims lack these documents as a result of evacuations, loss or damage, and […]
A California appeals court has just thrown out a wrongful termination and disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a worker who was discharged after his preemployment drug test came back positive for marijuana–even though the employee had medical authorization to use marijuana for chronic back pain.
In the wake of the recent hurricane that has devastated parts of the Gulf Coast and left thousands homeless, many employers across the country are organizing charitable giving campaigns in their workplaces to enable employees and the employer, often in the form of matching gifts, to help the hurricane victims. Here’s online contact information for […]
Charles Tellis, an Alaska Airlines maintenance mechanic in Seattle, told his supervisor on July 4 that he needed time off because his wife was having difficulties with her pregnancy. His supervisor suggested Tellis contact the benefits department about taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Later that evening, instead of showing up […]
Performance appraisals are an important tool to help managers and employees meet and discuss organizational priorities and set performance and production goals. Appraisals can also provide important benchmarks for employers for use in employment decisions such as those involving compensation, promotions, or layoffs.
Recently, Cal-OSHA submitted emergency regulations regarding workplace heat illness prevention. At an August 12 meeting of the Cal-OSHA Standards Board, the new rules won approval. The rules require the following:
Three transit companies based in Pomona have agreed to pay a combined $100,000 to settle a race and sex harassment lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC’s lawsuit charged that a group of black female employees of Diversified Paratransit Inc., Paul’s Yellow Cab, and Inland Express were subjected to a hostile […]
Almost 7 out of 10 American workers report that they plan to have a working retirement, working full- or part-time for pay past normal retirement age—and a full 12 percent say they believe they’ll never be able to retire. Another 14 percent say they want to work as volunteers in their golden years, and just […]
The California Supreme Court has issued two new decisions of importance to employers.