Seyfarth Synopsis: On September 25 (yes, a Sunday), Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1241. SB 1241, effective January 1, 2017, adds Section 925 to the Labor Code to restrain the ability of employers to require employees to litigate or arbitrate employment disputes (1) outside of California or (2) under the laws of another state. The only exception
Continue Reading SB 1241—What Happens in California Stays in California (Sorry, Vegas)
The 16th Edition of Litigating California Wage & Hour and Labor Code Class Actions Is Here!
Authored by Christopher A. Crosman.
We are excited to announce the 16th edition of Seyfarth Shaw’s publication Litigating California Wage & Hour and Labor Code Class Actions. As in previous editions, this publication reviews the most commonly filed wage and hour and Labor Code class and representative claims and the development of the law over the last several
Continue Reading The 16th Edition of Litigating California Wage & Hour and Labor Code Class Actions Is Here!
No Rest for the Weary: California Law on Rest Breaks
Seyfarth Synopsis: California’s rules on rest breaks are still developing. Recent cases have addressed the timing of rest breaks, and whether employees (particularly those who remain “on call”) must be relieved of all duty during breaks.
Our fair state has long imposed peculiar—and specific—requirements for employee work breaks. Varying interpretations of the rules for meal and rest breaks have spawned
Continue Reading No Rest for the Weary: California Law on Rest Breaks
The Fault Line Running Under “No Fault” Attendance Policies
Seyfarth Synopsis: Many employers have “no fault” attendance policies in place to manage employee absenteeism. Are these policies putting California employers on shaky ground? Read on….
“No fault” attendance policies are one popular method among employers to, with consistency, counsel, discipline and, in some instances, terminate employees who rack up excessive absences. Under these policies, the reason for the employee’s
Continue Reading The Fault Line Running Under “No Fault” Attendance Policies
“Takin’ Care of Business” at Home: Hiring California Household Help
Seyfarth Synopsis: Have you pondered the implications of hiring help around the house? Here are some legal requirements regarding employment of domestic helpers.
Household workers or “domestic helpers” are people who work within a private household or on their employer’s premises. They include cleaners, maids, groundskeepers, dog walkers, cooks, nurses, home masseuses, personal trainers, and nannies, and those holding
Continue Reading “Takin’ Care of Business” at Home: Hiring California Household Help
Show Me the Money! California’s Underfunded Courts
Seyfarth Synopsis: Sustained cuts to California’s court system have strained access to justice across the state, and not enough is being done to fix the situation. But, you can help!
Since the “Great Recession” of 2008, California’s court system has seen unprecedented reductions in funding, further straining the resources of an already overburdened court system. A 2013 report from the
Continue Reading Show Me the Money! California’s Underfunded Courts
San Diego Implementing Ordinance Ameliorates Its Paid Sick Leave Law
Seyfarth Synopsis: We’ve regularly reported on California’s peculiar paid sick leave laws. Not counting industry-specific paid sick laws (e.g., the Long Beach and Los Angeles ordinances regulating hotel employers), there are now six California city ordinances mandating paid sick leave.[1] This week’s focus is on changes to the San Diego law, effective September 2, 2016.
The San Diego ordinance,
Continue Reading San Diego Implementing Ordinance Ameliorates Its Paid Sick Leave Law
End of The Employment Road? Tips To Avoid a Collision
Seyfarth Synopsis: When the decision is to terminate, getting the basics right can go a long way toward preventing claims down the road by departing employees.
Inevitably, at some point, every employment relationship comes to an end. For many people, where they work and what they do is a source of pride and self-worth, as well as livelihood. People
Continue Reading End of The Employment Road? Tips To Avoid a Collision
Ruff CA Leave Laws: Pet Care and Other Peculiarities
Seyfarth Synopsis: In leaves of absence, as in employment law generally, California can be peculiar. We examine at a few examples, including particular city ordinances in Emeryville and San Francisco, and other statewide oddities such as voting, organ/tissue donation, and reckless student leave.
In the weird, wonderful, and often complex world of California leave laws, there are many familiar
Continue Reading Ruff CA Leave Laws: Pet Care and Other Peculiarities
Court Enjoins Enforcement of “Safe Harbor” Deadline for Piece Rate Law
Seyfarth Synopsis: A court has temporarily suspended the deadline for employers to elect the statutory “safe harbor” for purposes of complying with recent legislation that makes it even more difficult for employers that pay with a piece rate rather than an hourly rate for any portion of an employee’s work.
As we previously reported, the California Legislature’s enactment
Continue Reading Court Enjoins Enforcement of “Safe Harbor” Deadline for Piece Rate Law