Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
By Beth Kahn and Sigalit Shoghi, Morris Polich & Purdy LLP The California Court of Appeal has sent employers a message to be vigilant in following their policies and attentive to employees who request time off for medical conditions. See how the court’s ruling against a California university is a good reminder for other employers […]
By Cathleen S. Yonahara, Freeland Cooper & Foreman LLP An appellate court in California recently upheld a jury verdict of $3.2 million in compensatory damages and $13 million in punitive damages awarded to a former Staples employee who claimed he was a victim of age discrimination. And what started it all? The alleged theft of […]
By Emily Mertes, Sedgwick LLP In a recent California Appellate Court decision, what began as an otherwise uncomplicated employment case resulted in an arbitration agreement win for employers. Read on to see how the court determined that employee acknowledgment was sufficient to enforce an arbitration agreement.
In July, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), and the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced a landmark set of regulations to strengthen workplace and environmental safety at oil refineries across the state.
By Emily A. Mertes and Katharine Essick, Sedgwick LLP Since the California Supreme Court’s seminal meal and rest break decision Brinker v. Superior Court in 2012, employers have wrestled with whether, in their particular circumstances, it would be impractical to provide their employees with two separate rest breaks before and after a meal period during […]
It’s practically impossible to try and cover everything that will change in California for both 2016 and 2017. So many midyear and other upcoming changes make it a difficult year. Why? Because it’s California, of course! Jonathan A. Siegel, partner at Jackson Lewis P.C., feels the pain of HR pros.
By Emily A. Mertes and Katharine Essick Since the California Supreme Court’s seminal meal and rest break decision Brinker v. Superior Court in 2012, employers have wrestled with whether, in their particular circumstances, it would be impractical to provide their employees with two separate rest breaks before and after a meal period during an 8-hour […]
The California Tort Claims Act requires public employers to defend and indemnify their employees for third-party claims arising out of acts within the scope of employment. Does that mean public employers must defend and indemnify an employee against a sexual harassment lawsuit?
By Michelle Lee Flores If an employee proves that an illegal reason (such as age discrimination) was a substantial motivation in his employer’s decision to terminate him, does the company have any defense to a wrongful termination claim?
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals—which covers California, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington—has given employers another thing to worry about in light of the new overtime regulations.