On April 4, 2016, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 3 into law which addresses several issues including an increase of the state’s minimum wage. The minimum wage shall increase as of January 1, 2017 with additional increases through January 1, 2022 when it reaches...

As was discussed in our last Special Bulletin, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has issued amended regulations relating to an employer’s obligation to prevent and remedy workplace harassment. Additional amendments will also become effective April...

The USCIS published a notice on March 28, 2016 informing the public of proposed changes to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, as the current form is set to expire 3/31/16. The public comment period runs until April 27, 2016. A summary of the proposed...

New regulations regarding an employer’s obligation to prevent workplace misconduct have been adopted by the California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC). Implementation of these new regulations will be by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH),...

All employers must have notices posted in the workplace which  are legally required by both state and federal regulations. The posting must be in a conspicuous area accessible to all employees at each worksite. The size of the workforce will determine which posters...

Well I am not sure how it happened, but it’s the end of the year again .... and with year-end comes planning to implement all the new laws which take effect in 2016, and let’s not forget planning some holiday festivities.  Below is a summary of many of the new laws...

Historical Gender Based Wage Differentials It has been reported that in 2014 a woman working full-time in California earned an average of $.84 to every dollar a man earned, and the national average is a wage gap of $.78 to the dollar. The wage gap is much worse for...

As has been widely publicized and consumed much time in discussion and analysis, employers are reminded that effective July 1, 2015 the State of California’s Mandatory Sick Leave law will become effective. While the poster was required to be in place by January 1,...

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that the definition of “spouse” for purposes of the Federal Family and Medical Care Leave Act (FMLA) has been expanded to include same sex partners. In brief, the FMLA (and the California equivalent - California Family...

Effective January 1, 2015 there are several new posters that must be displayed in the workplace and forms that need to be provided to employees. Below is a summary of those necessary new posters and forms for distribution. PAID SICK LEAVE POSTER As was discussed in...