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Legislation Special Report: Privacy

Limits On Use Of Social Security Numbers In July 2002, a law took effect restricting the display of consumer Social Security numbers (SSNs) by California businesses. Although the law wasn’t targeted at the workplace, it had implications for employers’ use and display of worker SSNs. Now a follow-up law, SB 25, will further limit SSN […]

Legislation Special Report: Workers’ Compensation

Delay Penalties and Utilization Review AB 1557 provides that an employee isn’t entitled to the usual 10 percent increase in workers’ compensation benefits for an unreasonable delay in providing medical treatment if the delay was necessary to complete the new utilization review process required of employers by the workers’ comp reform legislation (see below).

Legislation Special Report: Empoyee Complaints And Lawsuits

Employee Enforcement of Labor Code Under SB 796, which has been dubbed the “bounty-hunter law,” employees may file private lawsuits against their employers, on behalf of themselves and other employees, for labor code violations when the responsible state agency doesn’t pursue the violations. The law provides employees with various financial incentives to file suit, as […]

Legislation Special Report: Wage And Hour

Wage and Hour Appeals AB 223 makes it harder for employers to recover attorney’s fees and costs in connection with an employee’s appeal from a labor commissioner wage and hour ruling. If the court awards the employee a sum greater than zero in the appeal, the appeal is successful and the employer can’t recover its […]

Sexual Harassment Policy: Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, And Retaliation

Updated Jan. 2004 The [insert company name] (“Company”) believes in respecting the dignity of every employee and expects every employee to show respect for all of our colleagues, clients, customers, and vendors. Respectful, professional conduct furthers the Company’s mission, promotes productivity, minimizes disputes and enhances its reputation. Accordingly, this policy forbids any unwelcome conduct in […]

Privacy: New Restrictions on Using Social Security Numbers in Mailings; Public and Private Employers Now Covered

In July 2002, a law took effect restricting the display of consumer Social Security numbers (SSNs) by California businesses. Although the law wasn’t targeted at the workplace, it had implications for employers’ use and display of worker SSNs. On Jan. 1, 2004, a follow-up law will further limit SSN use in mailings. Here’s what you […]