Same-sex marriage and CFRA: New employer obligations
What recent changes have happened with same-sex marriage laws, and how do these affect employers and their obligations to employees under employment laws like FMLA/CFRA?
Tag: San Francisco
DOMA is unconstitutional, but many questions left unanswered
Over the summer, the Supreme Court decided in the landmark case of United States vs. Windsor that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, which now paves the way for same-sex couples to potentially enjoy many federal benefits that they weren't entitled to before. Let's take a closer look at DOMA, what the ruling did, and what questions remain.
Minimize intermittent leave scheduling issues
In California, employers have to juggle both FMLA and CFRA laws, and both allow protected leave on an intermittent basis. Intermittent leave is perhaps the most difficult aspect of FMLA/CFRA leaves because it presents operational and scheduling issues and inconveniences that can be frustrating for employers. Understanding intermittent leave and what can be done to minimize these frustrations and scheduling issues can go a long way toward easing the implementation of FMLA/CFRA leaves.
Electronic Employee Records: Pros and Cons
Electronic employee records are everywhere, whether we like it or not. Laptops, phones, servers, and even employee personal electronic devices may contain company-related information. The number of ways we have to create and store documents seems to grow by the minute. How can an employer keep track of it all? And is there still an […]
What Hiring E-Records Should You Keep?
So, you’ve made the switch to all electronic employee records: How do you know what hiring e-records to keep? In a recent BLR webinar, attorney Allen Kato tackled this topic and gave us some advice. Hiring E-Records to Keep Here are the hiring e-records to keep: Job descriptions and job postings. These should identify the […]
Alert: CA minimum wage expected to increase
Last week, the California legislature passed a bill (AB 10) that will increase the minimum wage in California to $9.00 per hour effective July 1, 2014, and to $10.00 per hour effective January 1, 2016. Before the bill was passed, Governor Jerry Brown had indicated that he would sign it. The minimum wage in California is currently $8.00 per hour.
Expert answers on California employment policies
How should a small employer in California get started in creating an employee handbook? Are floating holidays subject to use-it-or-lose it policies in California like sick days? Or must they be treated like vacation days and paid upon termination?
When is commuting time compensable work time in California?
Most California employers do not expect to have to pay employees for commuting time. However, there are some important exceptions to this rule. Some of these are fairly straightforward, such as commuting time when the employee is called back in for an emergency. Others are less clear, such as when an employee is driving a […]
Train Supervisors to Make the Right Decisions
We want our supervisors to manage and participate, but there are several circumstances in which they must step aside, says Attorney Mark Schickman. Schickman, who is a partner with Freeland Cooper & Foreman, LLP in San Francisco, offered his training tips at a recent webinar sponsored by BLR® and HR Hero®. When the Supervisor Is […]
Are Your Supervisors Trained to Handle Tough Decisions?
Even organizations with the most rules and regulations get into trouble, Schickman says. It doesn’t matter how big you are, or how much money you have, or how many rules you have—if the supervisor doesn’t do the job, you’re in trouble. Schickman, who is a partner with Freeland Cooper & Foreman, LLP in San Francisco, […]