Blog
MERCURY MANAGEMENT
Current temperatures well into the hundreds require employers to safeguard workers from heat illness.
NAME CHANGER
Combatting discrimination, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) investigates and mediates or prosecutes complaints under the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
RELIEF FOR ONLINE BUSINESSES
In recent years, disability discrimination suits have skyrocketed from the visually impaired alleging online businesses deprive their access for lack of special reader features.
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 9
GOOD RELATIONSHIPS BREAKING BAD
Improper conflicts of interest occur whenever employees are involved in circumstances dividing their loyalties between the employer’s best interest and the employee’s or a third party’s.
PRECIOUS PAPER
Wage-related lawsuits are a booming California industry. An employer’s “ounce of prevention” must include continual creation and maintenance of complete and accurate pay records. Even if a former worker’s allegations are groundless, deficient recordkeeping leaves a company wide open to wage “theft” claims – e.g., off-the-clock unpaid work hours; meal period deprivation – that can be very difficult to disprove.
TIME CUSHION
California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) is a temporary disability program administered under the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide wage replacement benefits when a person must be off work in certain circumstances.
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 8
KEEPING IT TIGHT
Notwithstanding the decriminalization of marijuana use in this state, California employers are within their rights – and right minds – to establish and enforce strict rules on employee use, possession, and/or sale of illegal drugs, controlled substances and alcohol.
BOOZE SCHOOL
The Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program Act of 2017 (AB 1221) rendered formerly voluntary training for alcohol beverage servers and their managers mandatory.
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 7
MUM’S THE WORD
In addition to implementing written confidentiality/nondisclosure agreements, a confidentiality policy can remind employees of their ongoing responsibility to protect the company’s trade secrets, customer data and other confidential information.
CLEARER THAN MUD
Earlier we detailed the latest changes in the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS). See What’s New In 2022: Kickin’ Corona: Cal/OSHA Further Revises Testing and Prevention Standards (May 6, 2022).