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Could sexual orientation protections be required in your workplace? The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down a state law prohibiting sodomy, could have sweeping implications for employers. Although many protections are already available to California employees, the court’s broad language suggests that gay employees may now enjoy more protections under […]
In an effort to keep workers’ compensation reform from becoming bogged down, all bills have been moved into a bicameral conference committee. With a number of bills pending it remains to be seen whether this move will facilitate negotiations and whether any significant reform will result.
The interagency task-force working to develop an updated definition of who is a job applicant for federal EEO recordkeeping and reporting purposes will have until Sept. 30 to complete its task. The existing definition, which has been under review for two years, fails to address the number of unsolicited job applications that employers receive over […]
For tax years beginning after 2001, a retirement plan can now allow participants who are at least age 50 or older at the end of the plan year to make catch-up contributions to their accounts.
For the first time since 1986, the U.S. Department of Labor has proposed new rules affecting the COBRA notice requirements. COBRA rules affect individuals’ rights to continue group health coverage under certain circumstances. For employers the consequences for not giving written notice in accordance with COBRA rules can be steep, including having to pay an […]
Trouble began between Betra Thompson and Tina Sheffield, two clerks for the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services, when Thompson allegedly called Sheffield at home, said she liked her “like a man likes a woman,” and asked for a date. Sheffield said no and hung up. The next day, a Friday, Sheffield told her […]
It’s a familiar scenario these days: An older worker gets terminated because of the employer’s economic woes—and then turns around and sues the company for age discrimination. We’ll tell you the story of how one employer beat the charges.
Sacramento lawmakers are debating a broad range of bills that would impact employers. The Assembly and Senate have until Sept. 12, 2003, to pass measures, and Gov. Davis must sign or veto them by Oct. 12, 2003. Here’s a look at key proposals on the table.
Two new opinions, one from a federal appeals court and the other from a California appeals court, provide insight into when flawed arbitration agreements will—and won’t—be enforced.
In recent years, several U.S. Supreme Court rulings have barred employees from suing states under a variety of federal employment statutes, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. But a new high court ruling gives state workers a victory, finding they can sue their employers for violating the Family […]