Seyfarth Synopsis: When we think of California employers encountering complex issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, images of retail, service, and other types of businesses come to mind. But one special type of employer needs to be mindful of California law: the family who employs workers to support the household as nannies, chefs, security personnel, personal assistants, and personal caregivers. We
Continue Reading Real Households of California: Issues with Domestic Workers
Something’s Afoot in Tinsel Town: New Laws for the Entertainment Industry
Seyfarth Synopsis: Two new California laws are set to significantly affect the entertainment industry: one will deal a giant blow to productions and studios accustomed to hiring independent contractors; the other will give print shoot productions the opportunity to process payments with regular payroll and avoid liability for not issuing payments at wrap.
Some Not-So-Entertaining News
California’s landmark Assembly Bill…
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Legislative Update: Governor Newsom Pens Halloween Terrors for California Employers
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Newsom has approved some of the bills most feared by employers, including bills to ban employment arbitration, extend FEHA administrative deadlines, codify the Dynamex ABC test, and create San Francisco-style lactation-accommodation requirements. Governor Newsom also vetoed a few bills that we might expect to be re-introduced in the same or similar form during 2020.
Governor Newsom acted…
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California Employment Legislative Update: Governor Newsom Gets to Work
Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Legislature has passed a series of bills for Governor Newsom to consider. He now has until October 13 to approve or veto bills such as a Dynamex codification bill and a San Francisco-inspired lactation accommodation bill.
Friday, September 13th marked the Legislature’s last day to pass bills to Governor Newsom’s desk for approval in the first…
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Who Are Independent (Contractors)? Throw Your Hands Up At Me!
Seyfarth Synopsis: California’s hotly contested and closely followed AB 5 independent contractor bill, which would extend the ABC test beyond Wage Order claims, just passed the California Senate, and now heads back to the State Assembly for reconciliation before going to Governor Newsom’s desk for his expected signature.
Tell Me What You Think About Me: The Destiny of AB 5…
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Companies Remain In Suspense On AB 5 Independent Contractor Bill
Seyfarth Synopsis: The hotly contested AB 5 was put on hold, but is widely expected to be revived before the end of the legislative session.
On August 13, 2019, the California Senate Appropriations Committee held a short hearing on Assembly Bill 5. AB 5, if enacted into law, would codify the “ABC Test” for employee status adopted…
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2017 Labor & Employment Legislative Update: It’s Finally Over! (For Now…)
Seyfarth Synopsis: New statutory obligations for California employers in 2018 will include prohibitions on inquiries into applicants’ salary and conviction histories, expanding CFRA to employees of smaller employers, expansion of mandatory harassment training to include content on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and new immigration-related restrictions and obligations.
California Governor Jerry Brown spent his last day to sign…
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2017 Labor & Employment Legislative Update: House of Origin Deadline
Seyfarth Synopsis: Pay equity and Ban The Box bills lead the list of bills approved to continue their quest (moving to the other house of the California Legislature) to become California law.
Friday, June 2, marked the last day for bills in the California Legislature to pass out of their house of origin—the Senate or Assembly—and continue the legislative process…
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Legislature Finds More Opportunity to Work: AB 5 Moves Along
Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment yesterday heard and approved AB 5, The Opportunity to Work Act, as it continues to move through the legislative process.
The Opportunity to Work Act, which would require employers to offer hours to part-time employees before hiring new employees or temporary workers, yesterday cleared its first hurdle in the…
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2017 California Labor and Employment Legislative Update: What to Watch
Seyfarth Synopsis: Back from Spring Break, and Back to Work: Our List of L&E Bills to Watch in the remainder of the 2017-2018 California Legislative Session.
California Legislators were, as always, very busy in the first few months of the 2017-18 Legislative Session, introducing well over 2000 bills by the February 17th bill introduction deadline. But, in comparison to prior…
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