Tag: california hr

Exempt or Nonexempt Worker Classification: Why You Should Conduct an Audit

Are all your employees accurately classified as exempt or nonexempt? Are you sure? The costs of misclassification can add up quickly, and the DOL estimates that nearly 70 percent of employers are not in compliance. You shouldn’t risk it. By learning how to conduct an internal payroll self-audit that evaluates your current policies and practices, […]

Are You Required to Provide Employee Expense Reimbursement?

Employee expense reimbursement policies should be clearly outlined and should be legally compliant. Employees have a right to be reimbursed for their work-related expenses, including business travel, training, equipment, materials—and sometimes even legal expenses. Most companies typically maintain their own deadlines, rules, special forms, and other procedural requirements that must be followed to request and […]

Designing a Workplace Drug Testing Policy in California

In a CER webinar titled “Drug and Alcohol Testing in California: Effective Strategies That Protect Your Company and Your Employees,” Marc L. Jacuzzi outlined some guidance for employers who are designing a workplace drug testing policy. The laws still have plenty of gray area, so Jacuzzi advised that be sure to consult with legal advisors […]

Why are Job Descriptions so Important?

Do you have up-to-date job descriptions? Having these can be vital for your company. Accurate, up-to-date job descriptions not only help you to find the best candidates for vacant roles, but they also help you to evaluate current employees. In a BLR bootcamp titled “Comp 101 Bootcamp: How to Effectively Develop Competitive Pay Plans for […]

Basics of Overtime Law in California

Overtime laws in California differ from the federal laws. If you have employees in California, you need to know your overtime obligations. In a CER webinar titled “Exemption Audits in California: Practical Strategies for Conducting a Successful Self-Audit of Your Job Classifications,” Allen M. Kato outlined some overtime basics for us to help employers understand […]

How to Handle Intermittent FMLA Leave for Exempt Employees

Managing intermittent FMLA leave has many challenges for employers, not the least of which is handling the issue of compensation for exempt employees taking such leave. Since FMLA leave is generally unpaid, yet salaried exempt employees are entitled to their salary regardless of hours worked, how should you proceed when an exempt employee takes intermittent […]

New Workers’ Comp Case Is Good News for Employers

Yesterday, we looked at a case in which a brand-new agricultural worker fell off a high ladder, sustaining both physical and psychiatric injuries. Normally a worker has to be with an employer for at least six months to recover for psychiatric injuries—what did the court conclude in this case?

When Can New Workers Recover for Psychiatric Injuries?

When a worker sustains an injury at work, it’s not always just the body that gets hurt—you may also be facing a claim for psychiatric injury. Today and tomorrow, we’ll look at a new case that helps clarify exactly when you may be liable for these sorts of injuries for new workers.

Should Off-Site Employees Verify Their Own Time Records?

Yesterday, we looked at four of attorney Paul Lopez’s five recommended questions for avoiding problems due to overtime-based lawsuits. Today, our analysis of the fifth question—plus an introduction to a resource that provides you with the California-specific wage/hour handbook policies you need.