Posts Tagged ‘work rights’
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Jerks, Introverts and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Weaving v. City of Hillsboro The ability of employers to follow the law – and of judges to enforce it – depends on clearly defined standards of responsibility and conduct. Vaguely or otherwise poorly stated rules can lead to inconsistent outcomes in very similar factual situations. This […]
AIN’S NO SUCH THING AS “FREE CALL”
Employer Must Pay Portion of Employee’s Unlimited Data Plan for Work-Related Calls The California Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of employee Colin Cochran on his class action lawsuit on behalf of 1,500 customer service managers against Schwan Home Service for reimbursement for work-related use of personal cell phones. Cochran v. Schwan’s Home Service, […]
EMPLOYER DUTIES TO FIGHT RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE
Companies Must Uphold Worker Rights to Religious Garb or Grooming Even if It Means Losing Business The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing the federal laws prohibiting discrimination in commerce, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, nicknamed “Title VII.” In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the EEOC has fielded […]
FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKPLACES
San Francisco Adopts a “Right to Request” Workplace Flexibility Ordinance (for employers with 20 or more on payroll) On January 1, 2014, San Francisco enacted a “right to request” ordinance which gives certain employees working in the City the right to seek flexible work arrangements to address family needs. The City has since amended the […]
A CALIFORNIA EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TO NEW LAWS 2014: MILITARY AND VETERAN STATUS
Protected Against Workplace Discrimination, Harassment Beginning on January 1, 2014, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) will protect an individual’s “military and veteran status” against employment discrimination and harassment. This new FEHA provision defines military and veteran status as “a member or veteran of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserve, […]
EMPLOYMENT LIABILITY FOR WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
U.S. Supreme Court Decision Slims Down Super-Sized Supervisor Definition Under federal and California law, employer liability for workplace harassment can depend entirely on the legal definition of a “supervisor.” The U.S. Supreme Court has recently clarified that definition under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in Vance v. Ball State University (June […]
WHO IS AN “EMPLOYEE” UNDER CALIFORNIA’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAW?
Some Volunteers May be Covered The California Court of Appeal has decided that the state’s workplace anti-discrimination law did not protect a former Los Angeles Police Department volunteer police reserve officer. Estrada v. City of Los Angeles, published July 24, 2013. However, the result would likely be the opposite for a private business in similar […]
ON-CALL TIME
When California Employers Must Pay for Worker Time Waiting for the Call A California worker recently asked us through the blog site whether his employer should pay for his “stand-by” or “on-call” time. He wrote, in part: “On some days, we are expected to be on-call for certain shifts … The sign posted at the store informs […]
AVOIDING WORKPLACE HELL
For Heaven’s Sake: Document, Document, Document! Lawyers are in sales, they are not in management. They don’t sell widgets to consumers of course. Rather, competing attorneys each “sell” his/her client’s construction of events and actions to juries and judges, with the most plausible version of such occurrences the winner. This firm defends employers daily on […]
NEW CA LABOR LAWS 2013 PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE REGULATIONS
Starting December 30, 2012, California employers are responsible for implementing new regulations on the state’s Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) law. Among the significant changes are: – Definition of “Four Months” Entitlement – PDL is part of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) , requiring employers with five or more employees to provide up to […]