Tag: california hr

Creating a drug testing policy in California

Creating a drug testing policy in California is often considered to be critical in ensuring employee safety. However, must comply with both state and federal laws when putting the policy together. How can you establish an effective program that doesn’t cause potential legal headaches down the road?

Exempt employees in California: The administrative exemption

Exempt employees in California are those who are not subject to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 8 in a day or 40 in a week. Since these employees are not being paid overtime, it may be tempting to classify as many employees “exempt” as possible, but they must meet strict requirements to […]

What laws restrict drug testing policies in California?

“Drug testing of private sector employees and applicants in California implicates the right of privacy set forth in Article 1, Section 1 of the California Constitution.” Marc Jacuzzi told us in a recent CER webinar. “That is where individual employee rights lie for private employers.” But what about safety concerns? Do they trump privacy concerns?

Elements of an effective telecommuting policy

Telecommuting has benefits for employees and employers alike, but implementing it fairly is still a challenge for many organizations. Employers want to keep employees happy while still keeping productivity up, so it’s crucial to think through the telecommuting policy in advance so that the program can meet organizational goals.

Nonexempt versus exempt employees in California: Q&A

How should a California employer handle an exempt employee who works a partial day? What about exempt employees who do not meet the salary requirements for their exemption? The details around nonexempt versus exempt employees in California can be complex, and getting them wrong can be costly. In a recent CER webinar, Marc L. Jacuzzi […]

Exempt employees in California: The professional exemption

Exempt employees in California must meet specific requirements. First, they must be paid on a salary basis, and the pay must be at least twice the California minimum wage. In addition to meeting the salary requirements, each type of exemption has its own job duty requirements that must be met for an employee to qualify. […]

Depression as a disability: Combating vague accommodation requests

Addressing depression and related mental disabilities and meeting reasonable accommodation requirements is a delicate balance. Often, employees who are in this situation will have a preconceived idea of what work restrictions would benefit them as an accommodation, and they ask their healthcare providers to state those things as a work restriction when they obtain medical […]

Depression and other mental disabilities: Beware of assumptions

Dealing with depression and other mental disabilities in the workplace can be challenging. This is especially true if an employer also has to combat negative attitudes towards the affected employees that hinder compliance with the law. California employers need to be aware of assumptions and attitudes about emotional or mental disabilities that can lead to […]