Tag: California Labor Code

Cutting Workers’ Comp Expenses: Employer Wins $6.3 Million From Insurer For Unfair Claims Practices; How To Monitor Reserves

How your workers’ compensation insurer manages your claims can have a big impact on your premiums. In a recent case, an employer whose premiums skyrocketed and dividends dropped for several years sued its insurer for overestimating the amounts needed to be held in reserve to pay claims—and won. This case underscores that keeping an eye […]

Employer Fraud: Big Verdict For Employee Who Was Enticed Into Relocating And Then Terminated For Complaining About Alleged Unfair Business Practices

It’s illegal in California to induce someone to relocate to take a job based on misrepresentations about the position. This situation typically arises when an applicant moves to a new city for a job that doesn’t work out and then claims the employer made false promises about the opportunity. Now, in a new twist, an […]

News Flash: Court Says Final Paycheck Rules Can’t Be Changed By Agreement; Employer Hit With Fines For Violations

David Balcorta complained that Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in Los Angeles violated the California Labor Code on 11 occasions by not paying him promptly after his discharge from short-term jobs with the studio. Fox contended that it had paid Balcorta according to the terms of its collective bargaining agreement. But the Ninth Circuit Court […]

Truth In Hiring: Employer Misrepresents Job Duties And Pays For It; Preventive Steps You Can Take Now

When you’re interviewing applicants, it can be tempting to paint an overly rosy picture of the job to snare a good candidate. But be careful. If what you say isn’t accurate, you could wind up on the wrong side of an expensive fraud lawsuit. We’ll tell you about one employer who recently had this problem […]

Handling Whistleblowers: Surprising New Caution On Firing Workers Who Complain

In recent years many employers have been sued for illegally firing or disciplining employees who blow the whistle or gripe about workplace health and safety considerations or an employer’s alleged illegal activity. But now an employer is in hot water for merely deciding not to rehire a contract worker whose employment term had expired. Here’s […]