Posts Tagged ‘new california labor laws’
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 30
State Settles Sexual Harassment Case with Cypress Police Department The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) defines sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature. This includes same-sex harassment, offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors, or retaliating after receiving a negative response to sexual advances. On June […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 29
General Contractor and Property Owners Left Holding Bag Labor Code section 218.7, effective January 1, 2018, made general “direct” contractors (those delivering to property owners directly) responsible for wage payments to employees of subcontractors who fail to make those payments. However, direct contractors may be able to prevent such exposure through well-constructed written agreements with […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 28
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 […]
MID-YEAR MINIMUM WAGE RATE INCREASES
Effective July 1, 2019 California minimum wage currently is $12.00 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees and $11.00 for employers that employ 25 or fewer. Annual increases will continue each January 1 until they reach $15.00 per hour in 2022 for larger employers and in 2023 for employers with 25 or fewer employees. […]
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, CALIFORNIA’S ENDANGERED SPECIES
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 […]
MAKING DYNAMEX RETROACTIVE
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 […]
UNIONIZING HOME HEALTH CARE
California May Require More Home Aide Disclosures Starting July 1, 2019 The Home Care Organization Consumer Protection Act (HCOCPA), effective January 1, 2016, requires licensing of home care organizations (HCOs) and registration of their home care aides (HCAs). The Home Care Services Bureau (HCSB) of California’s Department of Social Services (CDSS) regulates this industry. See […]
MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY
California At-Will Employees Bound to Lawful Policy Changes by Continuing to Work after Their Adoption In Diaz v. Sohnen Enterprises, California employer Sohnen Enterprises instituted a mandatory dispute resolution policy requiring that all employee claims be arbitrated. “Arbitration” is a private dispute resolution tool, bypassing court trials by jury. The company informed the employees of […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 26
Playa Vista Car Wash Takes a Dunking for $2.36 Million “Wage Theft” On April 17, 2019, the Labor Commissioner’s Office announced a $2.36 million citation — the largest issued against a car wash business to date — against Playa Vista Car Wash along with its president and general manager for failing to properly pay or provide required […]
THE #METOO MOVEMENT’S IMPACT
EEOC 2018 Report Reflects Increases in Sexual Harassment Charges The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the number of workplace discrimination charges filed nationwide during fiscal year 2018 (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018). Of the 76,418 discrimination charges filed last year, retaliation topped the list, totaling 39,469 charges, followed by sex, […]