Seyfarth Synopsis: The natural inclination is to ignore attempts to dredge up claims of harassment that happened long ago. But no harassment claim is too old to investigate. Having strong anti-harassment policies and investigation procedures, along with a good work culture, can help employers avoid getting caught in the cross-fire of the “me-too” harassment dialogue.
Don’t “Shoot Your Eye Out” Defending Unemployment Benefits Claims
Seyfarth Synopsis: The ordinary headaches of responding to unemployment claims with the EDD do not have to bog down employers in 2018. Here, we provide recommendations for managers to consider before the ball drops in Times Square this New Year.
’Tis the season to be jolly, sing holiday songs with family by the fire,
Google It: Pay Equity Class Action Complaint Dismissed
Seyfarth Synopsis: In the first case of its kind under the California Fair Pay Act, a court dismissed a pay equity class claim against Google, holding that alleging wage discrimination for “all women” does not plead enough information to sustain a complaint.
You have learned, in following our updates on California’s Fair Pay Act (
Be Fore-WARNed: California Really Is Peculiar
Seyfarth synopsis: Companies contemplating a mass layoff must comply with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. In California, alas, companies must also consider the even more stringent requirements of California’s own WARN act. That is the harsh lesson recently imparted by the California Court of Appeal in Boilermakers v. NASSCO Holdings Inc.
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San Francisco Regulators Provide Anticipated Guidance For Lactation Ordinance
Seyfarth Synopsis: In June 2017, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring employers to provide a private “lactation location” where new mothers can pump their milk as well as a “lactation break” during the work day, in addition to other amenities. The ordinance is effective January 1, 2018 and is more
Predictive Scheduling Laws: Guide to Avoid Becoming A Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins
Seyfarth Synopsis: Since the days of Buddy the Elf’s short stint as a retail employee, New York City and many other municipalities have adopted predictive scheduling laws. Though California does not yet have a such a law, San Francisco, Emeryville, and San Jose have adopted predictive scheduling ordinances. With the bustling holiday season
ComMISSION Impossible: The Pitfalls of California Commission Agreements
Seyfarth Synopsis: There are many different ways to pay employees in California. What is the scoop behind paying commissions? What are commission agreements and how have courts deciphered their coded mysteries? Read on for the most current intelligence from the SIA (Seyfarth Intelligence Agency).
Rogue Nation: The Rough Terrain Surrounding Commissions
What are commissions? Labor
Happy Veterans Day! Celebrate the Benefits of Hiring California Veterans
Seyfarth Synopsis: Countless California employers have found that veterans make outstanding employees. As we approach the Veterans Day holiday, read on for a list of the benefits of hiring veterans, as well as helpful resources for veterans seeking employment. We further discuss some state and federal job protections for employees who are in the military.
Not As You Wish: Wage Statement Law’s Pit of Despair
Seyfarth Synopsis: With the widespread use of direct deposit, the thought of an employee regularly reviewing wage statements may seem inconceivable. Still, employers must ensure that their wage statements strictly comply with California law, as even trivial, inadvertent failures to do so can lead to heavy penalties. We highlight here the information to include
Future of Work III: Performance Management in Today’s Environment
Seyfarth Synopsis: This post continues our blog series on the Future of Work, and discusses how, in California as elsewhere, performance management strategies continue to develop in response to the changing workplace. Access our prior Future of Work posts (on independent contractors in California and the effects of job automation) here and here.