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HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 10 SCRUTINY SCOPE

To safeguard personnel as well as protect company property from theft or destruction, an employer can search and inspect an employee's workspace, such as a personal office or cubicle. Yet where should the company draw the line? Can management search a locked desk drawer? An employee locker? A purse or briefcase?

NAME CHANGER

Combatting discrimination, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) investigates and mediates or prosecutes complaints under the state'sFair Employment and Housing Act(FEHA).

RELIEF FOR ONLINE BUSINESSES

In recent years, disability discrimination suits have skyrocketed from the visually impaired alleging online businesses deprive their access for lack of special reader features.

HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 9 GOOD RELATIONSHIPS BREAKING BAD

Improper conflicts of interest occur whenever employees are involved in circumstances dividing their loyalties between the employer's best interest and the employee's or a third party's.

TIME CUSHION

California's Paid Family Leave (PFL)is a temporary disability program administered under the state's Employment Development Department (EDD)to provide wage replacement benefits when a person must be off work in certain circumstances.

PRECIOUS PAPER

Wage-related lawsuits are a booming California industry. An employer's "ounce of prevention" must include continual creation and maintenance of complete and accurate pay records. Even if a former worker's allegations are groundless, deficient recordkeeping leaves a company wide open to wage "theft" claims - e.g., off-the-clock unpaid work hours; meal period deprivation - that can be very difficult to disprove.

HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 8 KEEPING IT TIGHT

Notwithstanding the decriminalization of marijuana use in this state, California employers are within their rights - and right minds - to establish and enforce strict rules on employee use, possession, and/or sale of illegal drugs, controlled substances and alcohol.

BOOZE SCHOOL

The Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training Program Act of 2017 (AB 1221) rendered formerly voluntary training for alcohol beverage servers and their managers mandatory.

HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 7 MUM'S THE WORD

In addition to implementing written confidentiality/nondisclosure agreements, a confidentiality policy can remind employees of their ongoing responsibility to protect the company'strade secrets, customer data and other confidential information.