Blog
GENEVA WHITE IS NOW A FIRM TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Geneva White has joined the firm as a technical administrative assistant. Geneva comes to us with a background in public relations with former positions in commercial marketing design as well as full-time humanitarian non-profit work. She has studied at New York’s The New School for Social Research and Parsons School for Design. Geneva is also a […]
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 INDUSTRY WAGE ORDERS UPDATED FOR CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES
Don’t Forget to Post Your New California Wage Orders California employers must comply with one or more of the 18 California Industrial Welfare Commission’s (IWC) published “wage orders” applicable to their industry or profession. For example, Wage Order 1 applies to the manufacturing industry; Wage Order 4 to professional, technical, clerical, mechanical and similar occupations; […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 25 RUBBER CHECKS AND UNPAID WAGES REBOUND ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
In another rebuke to the construction industry, the Labor Commissioner has cited RDV Construction, a Los Angeles County subcontractor, $12 million for wage theft violations involving more than a thousand workers. The Carpenters Contractors Cooperation Committee, a non-profit labor-management organization, assisted in bringing those violations to light. RDV provided crews on 35 mixed-use, apartment, and […]
DFEH CHARGED SAN DIEGO CREDIT UNION WITH FAILING TO ACCOMMODATE DISABLED EMPLOYEE
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) requires employers with five or more on payroll to engage in an “interactive process” with a worker requesting disability-related accommodation. The employer must have timely, good faith and ongoing discussions to explore if and how to reasonably accommodate the physically or mentally disabled worker’s ability to perform the essential functions of his or her job. Failure to do so can be a costly error.
E-VERIFY IS BACK FEBRUARY 11, 2019 “CATCH-UP” DEADLINE
The federal E-Verify program provides a way for employers to confirm that people they are hiring are eligible to work in the United States. Participation in E-Verify is discretionary for most employers, but mandatory for federal contractors and certain others, such as businesses in states requiring its use. California is not one of those states. […]
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 CALIFORNIA’S INCREASED PROTECTIONS AGAINST WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
In addition to the safeguards we have recently reported, the California legislature has enacted other significant “Me-Too”-inspired legislation effective January 1, 2019 to further prevent workplace harassment and encourage those targeted to prevail on their claims: Optional Bystander Intervention Training Authorized. Employers may, but are not required to, provide bystander intervention training and guidance to […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 24
Unpaid Wages and Attempt to Evade Consequences Result in Seizure of Owners’ Assets Continuing to target restaurants and other industries under its Wage Theft Is a Crime program, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) has taken action against the Mango Gardens restaurant chain. In 2015 following a referral from Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law […]
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 CALIFORNIA’S ZERO TOLERANCE PROTECTIONS AGAINST WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
The Expanding Meaning of “Zero Tolerance” The #MeToo movement has prompted the California Legislature to expand employer liability for harassment of employees and other specified persons effective January 1, 2019, making it far easier for workers to sue and bring their cases to trial. Release and Waiver Agreements Prohibited: Except for certain negotiated settlement agreements […]
WHAT’S NEW FOR 2019 PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS NEW 2019 OVERTIME EXEMPTION RATES
California Labor Code section 515.6 exempts certain licensed physicians and surgeons from overtime compensation if they receive set minimum hourly compensation. Effective January 1, 2019, the California Department of Industrial Relations is increasing the minimum from $79.39 to $82.72 per hour, up from $79.39, effective January 1, 2019. To avoid California’s requirements to pay overtime premium […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 23
Construction Accidents Kill Two with Resulting Large Fines against the Employers Two recent Cal/OSHA cases underscore the need for effective safety measures, especially in hazardous conditions. Cal/OSHA cited two employers after an employee of each died as the result of a trench collapse. In April 2018, Bay Construction Co. was installing underground pump equipment at […]