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

INTERNS…TO BE OR NOT TO BE … PAID As the summer months approach, many students will begin looking for work and some will offer to work for free as an “unpaid” intern, to gain experience in their chosen field.  Employers beware as there are very few instances in which an “intern” need not be paid. If… Continue Reading

THE NEW “ABC’S” OF INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR STATUS As California employers are well aware, the issue of whether a worker is properly classified as an “employee” or an “independent contractor” has long been a concern.  Misclassification can lead to potential legal exposure for claims of minimum wage, overtime, missed meals and breaks and failure to provide… Continue Reading

E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. E-Verify employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees by electronically matching information provided by employees on the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against records available to the Social Security… Continue Reading