2019 Cal-Peculiarities

Seyfarth Synopsis: In a simpler time, courts reviewing medical cannabis laws issued employer-friendly decisions, generally finding no duty to accommodate medical cannabis even when state laws allowed its use for medical purposes. Now, however, the tide is rapidly turning. Where does California employment law currently stand on cannabis? Below we address burning issues regarding accommodations and drug testing.

What is
Continue Reading Cannabis in California: High Time to Smoke Out the Issues

Seyfarth Synopsis: Sometimes even the best employees can have their woebegone days. How is an employer to distinguish between (1) a mental disability that may require accommodation and (2) a case of someone “having the Mondays”? In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we offer some therapeutic antidotes for your queries on tackling mental illnesses at work.

In
Continue Reading Employer Web Therapy: Accommodating Employee Mental Health Illness

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers increasingly find themselves in the difficult position of deciding whether to continue garnishing an employee’s wages pursuant to a garnishment order when the employee files for bankruptcy. On one hand, the employer risks penalties for failing to withhold wages; on the other hand, the employer risks sanctions for violating the automatic stay generated by a bankruptcy filing.
Continue Reading “U Can’t Touch This”: When A Garnished Employee Goes Bankrupt

Seyfarth Synopsis: Everything was smooth sailing with your latest greatest arbitration agreement, but then an employee refused to get on board. What do you do now? Keep reading for a primer on navigating some murky waters.

Even in a post-Epic Systems world, where more and more employers are rolling out mandatory arbitration agreements with class-action waivers, California has
Continue Reading Employees Who Won’t Get On Board With Arbitration—Can Employers Rock The Boat?

Seyfarth Synopsis: Thinking of converting your independent contractors to employees? Not so fast. There are many implications to consider. Below we touch on one of them.

In the wake of the judicial invention of a California version of the “ABC test” to determine proper worker classifications, many companies in the gig economy are grappling with whether to reclassify their workers
Continue Reading Gig Workers And The Duty Of Loyalty

Seyfarth Synopsis: Companies marketing through social media are likely familiar with social media influencers like the Kardashian/Jenners in cosmetics, DanTDM in gaming, and Kayla Itsines in fitness. California companies using the services of such influencers must be mindful, as always, of California peculiarities when it comes to classifying these individuals as contractors or employees.

As anyone who
Continue Reading Hiring Influencers: Are You Playing With Fyre?

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employer subsidized healthcare is one of the largest cost centers for small and large businesses.  This post provides a primer on what to do if you suspect that your healthcare costs are rising because your healthcare plan is under siege by fraudsters.  

With the rising costs of healthcare, some employers choose to self-insure to reduce claims and premium
Continue Reading Fraud In Your Healthcare Plan? It’s Probably There

Seyfarth Synopsis: It is important for companies to investigate internal sexual harassment complaints and take prompt, appropriate corrective action. This post provides a six-step roadmap of best practices for handling sexual harassment complaints.

1.   Plan Ahead


Continue Reading You’ve Got An Internal Sexual Harassment Complaint: Now What?

Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers are starting to consider “on demand” pay for employees. Before considering whether to implement an “on demand” pay program, employers should consider laws on wage deduction and wage assignment as well as the administrative support needed for such a program.

Instant gratification is a fact of daily life, and there is no denying we have come to
Continue Reading On Demand: It’s Not Just About Movies—It’s About Pay!

Seyfarth Synopsis: Workplace violence is no laughing matter. Although California law arms employers with strict laws to prevent workplace violence, no one wants to find themselves petitioning a court for emergency injunctive relief. Instead, employers should foster healthy workplaces and monitor early warning signs in order to address threats of violence before it is too late.

“If I had a
Continue Reading “Office” Violence Is No Laughing Matter