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Employment References: New Supreme Court Ruling Increases Your Risk; 3 Self-Defense Tips

In a blow to employers, the California Supreme Court has ruled that three school districts can be sued for giving enthusiastic job references that left out a vice-principal’s history of alleged sexual misconduct with students. This decision highlights the risks of giving reference letters, even when everything you say is positive.

News Notes: SF Tells United Airlines To Offer Domestic Partner Benefits

If United wants to fly to San Francisco, it may have to comply with the City’s controversial new domestic partners ordinance, warned a Board of Supervisors committee. In December, the Board voted to do business only with contractors who provide their employees with domestic partner benefits. (See CEA December 1996.) United does not currently do […]

News Notes: Controversy Over Arbitration Rages On

Finding the right language to ensure that arbitration agreements will stand up to legal scrutiny can be tricky. And a new decision by the California Court of Appeal adds to the confusion. When executive William Stirlen sued Northern California-based Supercuts for wrongful discharge, Supercuts tried to enforce an arbitration clause in Stirlen’s employment agreement. But […]

News Notes: Daily Overtime Rule Suspended In Flooded Counties

After declaring a state of emergency in 44 counties because of this winter’s storms, Governor Wilson signed an executive order suspending daily overtime requirements for private, non-union employers in the counties affected. The goal is to help businesses recover from the disaster by allowing the use of flexible work schedules. Employees can work more than […]

News Notes: Historic Ergonomics Regulations Stalled

California’s new workplace ergonomics rules won’t take effect until they are rewritten to make them easier to understand. The California Office of Administrative Law, which must approve all new state regulations, has just rejected the rules and asked for clarification of several different sections. The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board expects to have […]

Liability for Employees’ Acts: New Case Limits Your Responsibility to Customers

Employers are generally held legally accountable for their employees’ conduct. But one employer recently persuaded the California Supreme Court to limit this rule. The case involved the question of whether an employee of a fast-food restaurant acted properly during an armed robbery. Although the Supreme Court let the employer off the hook, the case points […]

Computer Security: Safeguard Your Vital Data Now

One of your employees rushes to the airport after your industry’s most important trade show. Halfway there, the worker realizes a company laptop computer was left behind in the hotel lobby, which is swarming with competitors. And that little machine is crammed with sensitive data: new product secrets, pricing information, strategic plans. Or, in a […]

Religion in the Workplace: Court Strikes Down Ban on Religious Advocacy; What You Can Do

The federal appeals court that covers California recently ruled that a public employer violated employees’ free speech rights when it banned religious discussion and materials in the workplace. The decision highlights the need for public and private employers alike to exercise care in adopting policies that restrict employees’ religious activities at work. Join us this […]

News Notes: New Prevailing Wage Regulations

Prevailing wage laws are designed to protect local workers from seeing their pay decline due to government contracts going to the lowest bidders. They require contractors on public works projects to pay employees the region’s prevailing wage. Until now, the formula used to determine the prevailing wage generally turned out to be union scale, often […]