Blog

The Continent

I got started in Africa in 2004, in Tanzania. Now, 2026, I have never fully come home. Some snapshots:

Service Offering: Staying Inside the Lines

California employers face a difficult question: are employees genuinely learning from sexual harassment prevention training, or just checking a box?

Service Offering: Good Roads

California does not give employers the benefit of the doubt. A Bowles Law workplace compliance review is a structured, attorney-guided examination of employer practices, policies, and documentation against current California and federal employment law requirements.

Cautionary Tale Episode 109: Don't Fix What Ain't Broken

A Long Island Walmart initially accommodated an employee with disabilities but new management eliminated the accommodations and terminated the employee, resulting in a $60,000 EEOC settlement for disability discrimination under the ADA.

Service Offering: Break Point

Meal and rest break violations remain a leading source of wage-and-hour litigation in California. This post identifies five common employer mistakes and offers practical corrective measures.

What's New in 2026: White Coats, New Rates

California's Department of Industrial Relations announced updated compensation thresholds for physicians and surgeons, with the minimum hourly rate increasing to $107.17 effective January 1, 2026—a 3.3% adjustment.

FIND OUT WHAT'S NEW IN 2026 FRESH YEAR NEAR

Covering Employment Legal Essentialsand New Workplace Laws

Service Offering: Ghosted — What to Do When Employees Vanish

California employers face a growing trend of employees who stop showing up without notice. Handling these ghosting cases without a clear process can create unexpected legal exposure.

Service Offering: Tailored Functioning — Workplace Policy Handbook & Forms for 2026

Clearly written policies and procedures support productivity, reduce confusion, and limit preventable employment disputes. The firm's 2026 package includes employment forms, handbooks, and compliance materials.

What's New in 2026: Computer Software Overtime Exemption Rates

California's Department of Industrial Relations announced a 3.3% rate increase for computer software professionals' overtime exemption, from $56.97 to $58.85 per hour for 2026.