Seyfarth Synopsis: Several bills of concern to California employers failed to receive the house of origin blessing and passage by the June 1 deadline, including this year’s attempts at PAGA reform, criminal history inquiries, and medical marijuana accommodations, while a boatload of others, most notably sexual harassment-related bills, sail on. The measures being passed to their opposite house for consideration
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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: The End is Near!
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Jerry Brown has till October 15 to approve bills the Legislature sent to his desk by its Friday, September 15, deadline, including bills that would require employers to ”show us the money” for certain employees and to make “mum be the word” for an applicant’s past conviction history.
The 2017 California Legislative Session kicked off on January
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Not Just Sticks and Stones: When Should Employers Step In?
Seyfarth Synopsis: Private employers can face competing obligations when it comes to responding to employees’ expressive conduct. Employee rights may collide with employer obligations to maintain a safe and harassment-free work environment, not to mention the employer’s interest in maintaining productivity and avoiding adverse publicity. Here are some guiding principles.
“How’s work?” A common question, whether at a party, catching
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Hot Off The Press! DFEH’s Annual Report
Seyfarth Synopsis: California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has just issued its Annual Report on civil rights complaints during 2016. Here are some highlights.
The DFEH hails as the largest state civil rights agency in the country, with 220 full-time employees operating out of five offices throughout California. Its annual report makes clear that its core work is litigation.
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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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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
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HR Heads-up: Amended FEHA Discrimination Regulations Will Require Action
The California employment agencies have been busy!
- In February, the DFEH issued guidelines on dealing with transgender issues in the workplace (see our report here).
- Now, effective April 1, 2016, the Fair Employment & Housing Council gives us amended regulations on preventing discrimination, harassment and retaliation in the workplace. See our One Minute Memo that posted on March 8,
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