Archive for July, 2011
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT AND WRONGFUL TERMINATION
California’s Labor Codes do a lot to protect employees but there are some laws that benefit employers as well. For instance, unless a company and an employee agree otherwise, their relationship is presumed to be “at-will.” As defined, this means there is no promise or obligation of continuing employment. Either the employer or employee may […]
FORUM ON HUNGER AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Saturday, July 30, 2011 9:30 A.M. – NOON Youth for Human Rights International presents: REVERSING HUNGER with Irving Sarnoff Founder, Friends of the United Nations Admission Free. Donations Accepted. Brunch, with presentations and panel to follow. Where: Church of Scientology of Pasadena 35 S. Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105 (626) 792-7533 RSVP: Michele Kirkland (323) 663-5797 director@youthforhumanrights.org […]
WRITTEN EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE POLICY
It would seem too obvious to have a policy that workers must show up in order to keep their jobs and to be paid. Perhaps it is, but it’s still not a bad idea to issue clear written directives expecting attendance, specifying work days and working hours, and setting procedures for employees to notify the […]
MANDATORY EMPLOYEE UNIFORMS
California Requires Employers to Pay A company’s required uniforms for its workforce can provide a more professional image and an espirit de corps and comradery among employees. While the federal law permits employers to require workers to finance their own mandatory uniforms under certain circumstances, California requires businesses to foot the bill. The U.S. Fair […]
CALIFORNIA’S SUITABLE SEATING REQUIREMENTS
Sitting Down on the Job As raised in several recent class action suits against retail giants Wal-Mart, Home Depot and others, California requires “suitable seating” for certain employees. California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order 7-2001, section 14, covering retail businesses, states: (A) All working employees shall be provided with suitable seats when the nature of […]
IRS ANNOUNCES NEW STANDARD MILEAGE RATES
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rate from 51 cents to 55.5 cents per mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. This is highest IRS standard rate since the latter part of 2008. www.irs.gov. Although the IRS typically updates its […]
EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY PARTY OPTIONAL IN CALIFORNIA
California’s Department of Labor Standards Enforcement website explains that a non-union employer has full discretion: a) to close the business on any holiday; b) to give employees the day off for any particular holiday; or c) to pay employees taking a holiday off. In this state, hours worked on holidays are not considered differently from […]
MINIMUM WAGE AND EMPLOYEE TIPS
“Tip Credit” Law Not Valid in California The food industry is prone to violations of some very unforgiving minimum wage and overtime compensation rules. For example, some restaurant owners and managers mistakenly presume they can pay employees less than the hourly minimum wage ($8.00/hour in California; $7.25 federal law) if workers can make up the […]