New Employer Restrictions on Hiring Notices and Interviews Starting July 1, 2020 California law prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees for their membership in any protected class, including religious creed, disability and age (40+). The California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) has issued new regulations effective July 1, 2020, to better protect such individuals. Advertisements. The […]
Workers, 1901 Advertising and recruiting of desired applicants are the first steps in the hiring process. Such outreach must not discriminate against members of any “protected class,” characteristics shielded by federal and state employment discrimination laws. In California, these include race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, […]
EEOC Settles Female Miner Discrimination and Retaliation Case For $690,000 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the $690,000 resolution of its gender-based lawsuit against Alaska gold mining outfit Northern Star LLC, formerly Sumitomo Metal Mining Pogo (Pogo). The government alleged Pogo discriminated against female underground miner Hanna Hurst by refusing to promote her despite promoting male […]
Pregnancy Discrimination Is a Really Bad Idea Pregnancy remains one of the most clearly protected classifications for employees, safeguarded not only under general disability laws, but also under laws enacted specifically to protect expectant women. See, for example, Pregnancy Accommodation in California (Nov 2018); Employers with 20 or More on Payroll Must Provide Expanded […]
Properly Confronting the Chronically Negative Employee According to Wiktionary.org, a “Debbie Downer” is a “naysayer; one whose negative remarks depress or dissuade others.” Most seasoned managers will be all too familiar with how one negative individual can bring down the entire workforce’s morale. Employers are often reluctant to terminate someone just for a negative attitude, […]
Labor Commissioner Broadens Application of Dynamex Decision In Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (2018), the California Supreme Court adopted a strict “ABC test” redefining “independent contractor”: The worker is free from the hirer’s control and direction in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract in fact; The worker performs […]
Federal Appeals Court Rules New Independent Contractor ABC Test Applies Before It Existed Industries and employers throughout California have been grappling since April 2018 with the effect of Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court on their independent contractor relationships. Rejecting a multi-factor standard that had been in place since 1989, the California Supreme Court […]
California Legislature Dealing with Competing Proposals to Kill or Expand New Dynamex Test In 2018, the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex ruling drastically changed the criteria for independent contractor classification to determine entitlement to many employee rights and benefits. See, Independent Contractor Status in California Now Falls Under Radically Different Rules (June, 2018). Rejecting the long-established balancing […]
Changes to California’s Mandatory Workplace Pamphlets on State Benefit Programs California employers must provide certain government-issued pamphlets or information sheets to new hires, to employees on certain types of leaves of absence, and to workers upon termination of employment. The California Employment Development Department (EDD) — overseeing unemployment and disability benefits, payroll tax collection, and […]
KNOCK, KNOCK When It’s Your Turn For a Government Payroll Audit For California, the Employment Development Department (EDD) is responsible for the administration of unemployment and disability insurance, workforce training services and payroll audits. The agency has the power to impose significant, potentially fatal penalties for non-compliance. An EDD visit to look over pay practices […]