by Robin Largent Last week a California Court of Appeal addressed various issues relating to the enforceability of an employment arbitration agreement containing a class action and representative action waiver in the wake of the California Supreme... Read More

On September 10, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014. As a result, most employers in California will be required to provide up to 24 hours (3 days) of paid sick leave to their employees... Read More

This week, California’s Governor signed into law urgency legislation passed by the legislature (AB 304) to amend California’s recently enacted paid sick leave law. These amendments take effect immediately and are intended to clarify some areas... Read More

by Marlene Nicolas and Will Kim California employers with more than 50 employees must include “abusive conduct” prevention training in their mandatory harassment prevention training. Assembly Bill No. 2053 expanded the scope of training... Read More

California's newest regulations pertaining to the rights of the disabled in the workplace require employers to allow "assistive animals" in the workplace as a reasonable accommodation to certain disabled employees. See CCR 7293.6 &... Read More

by Arthur F. Silbergeld and Bennett J. Kaspar California, always a leader in employee-friendly laws and regulations, has enacted a bill to fortify the state's existing equal pay laws, adding strong anti-retaliation protections that allow employees... Read More

Last week a California Court of Appeal held that class certification was appropriate in a case alleging that the employer failed to reimburse employees for expenses associated with using their personal cell phones for work calls. At the trial court level... Read More

Yesterday, California’s Governor signed AB 1897 into law, notwithstanding tremendous opposition from business and trade groups. Under AB 1897, which takes effect January 1, 2015, a client employer will share civil legal responsibility and civil... Read More

As California’s current legislative process heads into its final days, we have a few updates on employment-related matters relating to paid sick leave, wage statement violations, meal period waivers in the health care industry, and the Fair Pay... Read More

For now, California employers may continue to require new hires to enter into binding mutual agreements to arbitrate all disputes. In a veto action that was somewhat unexpected, California Governor Edmund G. ("Jerry") Brown declined to sign... Read More

In Alexander v. FedEx Ground Package Sys. (8/27/14) , the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that FedEx’s delivery drivers are employees of the company, not independent contractors [an enhanced version of this opinion is available to lexis.com... Read More

Last week a California Court of Appeal held that class certification was appropriate in a case alleging that the employer failed to reimburse employees for expenses associated with using their personal cell phones for work calls. At the trial court level... Read More

The California Legislature has passed the following notable labor and employment bills, which are now awaiting approval or veto by Governor Brown: AB 1897 – This bill would expand liability for a contractor’s wage and hour violations to... Read More

California's Legislature is considering AB10 this session, which would increase California's minimum wage from the current $8 per hour to $8.25 per hour next year, to $8.75 per hour in 2015, and to $9.25 per hour in 2016. Beginning in 2017... Read More

On September 28, the Ninth Circuit issued a surprising decision (disagreeing with the view of many California district courts), holding that the California Supreme Court’s Iskanian v CLS Transportation decision is not preempted by the Federal Arbitration... Read More