Under current law, an employer who pays less than the minimum wage is subject to a Labor Commissioner citation that includes a civil penalty, restitution and liquidated damages (Labor Code Section 1197.1). AB 1723 authorizes the Labor Commissioner to also recover...

Currently employees are allowed time off to perform services as emergency rescue personnel.  The law has been revised by AB 2536 to expand the definition of "emergency rescue personnel.”  The new definition shall include an officer, employee or member of a disaster...

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) has been amended by AB 1443 to: •    Provide protections against harassment to unpaid interns and volunteers; •    Provide protections against discrimination in an unpaid internship or in another limited duration ...

Currently Labor Code Section 1019 provides protection to employees from "unfair immigration-related practices." The new law, AB 2751, expands the definition of “unfair immigration-related practice” to includes   threatening to file or filing a false report or...

Under a law passed last year, AB 60, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is scheduled to begin issuing driver's licenses to undocumented persons who can submit satisfactory proof of identity and California residency.  AB 60 also made it unlawful for a...

AB 1792 adds Government Code Section 13084, which prohibits an employer from: •    Discharging, discriminating or retaliating in any manner against an employee who enrolls in a public assistance program; •    Refusing to hire a beneficiary for reason of being enrolled...

Cal/OSHA has the responsibility to oversee workplace safety issues and can require an employer to correct any serious workplace safety violations.  Cal/OSHA can and does issue civil penalties for such violations. Under a new law (AB 1634) the Cal/OSHA Appeals Board...

For several years California law has required employers, with 50 or more employees, to conduct management training every two years to address issues of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention. California now requires employers who are subject to...

As we addressed in our prior newsletter, one of the most significant pieces of employment-related legislation is the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014  which provides for mandatory paid sick leave to all employees. Accrual, Caps & Carryover Employers...

The California Supreme Court was recently asked to decide if an employee's refusal to sign for the "receipt" of a disciplinary notice is "misconduct" which would disqualify him from receiving Unemployment Insurance.  The answer is NO. In the case, the Employer...