Seyfarth Synopsis: During the COVID-19 pandemic, California grocery, drug store, and other front-line workers have continued to sell essential products, stock shelves, clean buildings, and otherwise keep our economy moving. Several cities and counties have taken action—often in hap-hazard ways—to force the employers of these workers to provide them with premium pay, commonly called “hazard pay” or “hero
Continue Reading Hap-Hazard Pay: COVID-19 Hazard Pay Ordinances

Seyfarth Synopsis: On March 18, 2021, the California Senate voted to revive and expand the COVID-19 related supplemental paid sick leave law that expired on December 31, 2020, and Governor Newsom signed it into law the following evening. The law became effective immediately once signed, with a 10-day grace period for compliance, and it applies retroactively to January 1, 2021
Continue Reading California Revives, Expands Covid-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

Seyfarth Synopsis. On December 18, 2020, San Francisco imposed a 10-day mandatory quarantine on most people traveling or returning to the city for more than 24 hours. The order does not apply to travel within the larger Bay Area, or to certain visitors, including those not staying more than 24 hours, those seeking medical treatment, and those coming to the
Continue Reading San Francisco’s 10-Day Travel Quarantine Order Tells Holiday Travelers to Stay Home, Though Santa Likely Excepted

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Sacramento Board of Supervisors has joined many other California locales, including Los Angeles City and County, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, in requiring employers to provide covid-related paid sick leave. On top of required paid sick leave for designated reasons, the Ordinance contains numerous other employer obligations, such as vigorous cleaning
Continue Reading 2020—The Hits Keep Coming: Sacramento County’s New Sick Leave

Seyfarth Synopsis: On April 28, 2020, Mayor London Breed announced a plan to allow employees working in San Francisco to use funds from the Healthcare Security Ordinance (“HCSO”) contributions to buy “necessary expenditures,” including food, rent, and utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, use of these funds were limited to eligible health care expenses. Now, Mayor Breed’s announcement unlocks
Continue Reading San Francisco’s Stimulus: Employees Can Use Healthcare Funds During COVID-19

Seyfarth Synopsis: Last week, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the San Jose City Council enacted emergency ordinances to expand paid sick leave beyond that provided under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act. While San Francisco’s Public Health Emergency Leave ordinance awaits Mayor London Breed’s signature, Mayor Sam Liccardo has signed the San Jose COVID-19 Paid Sick
Continue Reading San Francisco, San Jose Extend Required Paid Sick Leave

Seyfarth Synopsis: The great California patchwork of minimum wage ordinances might have employers feeling full of matatas, but no worries! Seyfarth is here to explain the circle of life of these laws so that even the slowest hyena could follow.

More Food For The Whole Flock

As of July 1, 2019, many California counties and municipalities have upped the ante
Continue Reading Minimum Wage Increases Across the Pride Lands

Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing issues a yearly report describing its complaint and litigation trends. Below is the Reader’s Digest™ version.

The DFEH recently issued its 2017 Annual Report covering its fifth year in active litigation. In 2013, the California Legislature authorized the DFEH to file lawsuits under the Fair Employment and Housing
Continue Reading DFEH Reports Age Discrimination And Retaliation Claims On the Rise

Seyfarth Synopsis:  June 7, 2018, when the city’s new Paid Sick Leave rules take effect, marks the latest chapter in the City by the Bay’s long history of imposing local employment standards that exceed state requirements. Here’s what you need to know before this latest San Francisco peculiarity begins.

On May 7, 2018, after considering public input on proposed rules
Continue Reading San Francisco-Peculiarities: Fog Lifts on City’s New Paid Sick Leave Rules

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 expansive than current state and
Continue Reading San Francisco Regulators Provide Anticipated Guidance For Lactation Ordinance