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
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San Francisco-Peculiarities: The City’s Ultra-Unique Employment Landscape
Seyfarth Synopsis: As if high rent and California’s peculiar laws were not enough to worry about, San Francisco employers must also comply with City-specific ordinances. Trailblazing City requirements often exceed state laws and have sometimes been harbingers of state-level enactments. One might say that San Francisco, with its distinctive laws, is to California what California is to the rest of
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Avoid Paying The Piper: Tune Your Startup to Avoid Harassment Claims
Seyfarth Synopsis: Heeding some lessons from HBO’s “Silicon Valley” can help employers avoid mistakes related to potential hostile work environments and discrimination that might occur in a startup environment.
In a world where life often imitates art, startups can avoid perceived gender bias and sexual harassment in the workplace by learning from the pitfalls of the socially awkward
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From Backyard To Workplace: Corralling The Law On Assistive Animals (Part I)
By Colleen M. Regan and Geoffrey C. Westbrook
Back in December 2012, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission (as it was then known) issued regulations greatly expanding protections to disabled job applicants and workers in California. The regulations require employers with five or more employees to permit “Assistive Animals” as a form of reasonable accommodation. These creatures include not only
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Does Your California Handbook Need A “Checkup” This Flu Season?: Part Two
By Ann Marie Zaletel and Casey McCoy
Leaves are turning, days are shortening — the classic signs that winter is on its way. With winter comes cold and flu season. Much like flu shots often protect us from coming down with the flu, when done right employee handbooks can help protect employers legally.
Continuing on with Part II of this
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California Really Is Different: How Employers’ Obligations Differ Under Cal/OSHA With Respect to Reporting Serious Workplace Injuries
This blog post was originally published in Seyfarth Shaw’s Environmental & Safety Law Update.
California is one of 22 states and jurisdictions that has its own OSHA Plan covering private sector employers. The federal OSHA law, of course, continues to provide a minimum level of safety, or “floor,” under which these state regulations may not fall. But above this
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