As the holiday season approaches and as we look forward to celebrating with our friends and colleagues, employers must keep in mind the “do’s and don’t’s” of office holiday parties. With some careful planning employers can avoid or minimize the post-holiday party headaches and the potential legal claims and liabilities that could follow. It is also… Continue Reading

NEW PROTECTIONS AGAINST NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION The California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) recently issued new regulations that provide a more detailed definition of “national origin” and “national origin groups”. The new regulations also set forth the permissible and impermissible types of policies relating to English only language restrictions, inquiries regarding immigration status, and… Continue Reading

RECENTLY PASSED LEGISLATION DEFAMATION SUITS & SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS Governor Brown has recently signed Assembly Bill 2770 entitled Privileged Communications: communications by former employer: sexual harassment. AB 2770 (Irwin; D-Thousand Oaks). This bill takes effect January 1, 2019. As a consequence to the increase in sexual harassment claims, there has also been a rise in claims… Continue Reading

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE REMINDER As a reminder to California employers, the next phase of the minimum wage increase, for many local jurisdictions, took effect on July 1, 2018. If your business or employees are located in certain local jurisdictions you must comply with the minimum wage for your city or county. Local Minimum Wage Ordinances  Many… Continue Reading