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GIVE ME A BREAK!

Most California employers are aware that state and federal law allows eligible employees to take time off forfamily and medical leave,parental leave,pregnancy disability leave,paid sick leave, andjury duty.

CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 10

On June 7, 2018, theCalifornia Labor Commissioner announced citationstotaling $10 million against seven San Francisco bay area restaurants that failed to pay proper wages to a total of 431 workers.

MID-YEAR CHANGES

California minimum wagecurrently is $11.00 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees and $10.50 for employers that employ 25 or fewer. Annual increases will continue each January 1 until they reach $15.00 per hour in 2022 for larger employers and in 2023 for employers with 25 or fewer employees.

COOL IT

Summer is upon us, time for seasonal measures to protect workers from heat illness. California’sOccupational Safety & Health Standards Board (OSHSB) 2015 regulationsset the standards. See,New Heat Illness Prevention Measures Now in Place(May, 2015);Employers Must Chill(April 11, 2017).

“EPIC” RULING FOR EMPLOYERS

In a rare victory for employers, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that companies may require workers, as a condition of employment, to sign arbitration agreements that waive the right to participate in workplace-related class action claims.Epic System Corp. v. Lewis.

GAME CHANGER

The California Supreme Court has issued a landmark decision drastically redefining who can be classified an independent contractor.Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court.The new criteria potentially expose tens of thousands of businesses who have relied on the old rules to legal actions for unpaid minimum wage and overtime, deprivation of meal and rest breaks, and other alleged violations of this state’sIndustrial Wage Orders.

NATIONAL ORIGIN DISCRIMINATION CLARIFIED

California lawprohibits discrimination against employees and applicants for their membership in any protected class, including national origin.The California Fair Employment and Housing Council(FEHC), which enacts regulations to protect employees and job candidates from unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation, recently issued greater national origin protections.

WHEN A DOOR SHUTS …. MAKE SURE IT’S FULLY CLOSED

When a worker’s employment ends, what should be included in a final paycheck is determined by California’s laws, the employer’s specific policies in place during the employment period, and the circumstances of the employment ending.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND

On Tuesday afternoon a customer walks in your restaurant with his giant Deerhound and starts ordering lunch for both of them. The waitress, surprised and unsure about this arrangement, asks her supervisor if the customer needs to leave because of the “no pets allowed” policy.