It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a massive component of California’s economy is and has been agriculture and food service, including farming, canning, processing, and of course, restaurants.  Given the size and scope of these industries in and across California, on April 16, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-51-20, expanding employee protections for Food Service Workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Covered Employers The additional protections are largely consistent with the Families First Coronavirus Response…

Written by Sharon Shaoulian California’s music industry finally came to an agreement with lawmakers on pending amendments to California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5).  The amendments would provide relief to professionals in the music industry, including recording artists, musicians, composers, songwriters and vocalists, amending the prior language in AB5 that created hurdles for self-employed music professionals to obtain work. To provide some background, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB5 into law in September 2019. …

The onslaught of new employment laws continues as San Francisco and San José have passed their own paid leave ordinances in response to the coronavirus. Liku Madoshi provides the details here. To see all of our COVID-19 resources (organized by topic, industry, and jurisdiction) visit our Coronavirus Resource Center. Stay safe!…

The White House has issued new guidelines for employers preparing to reopen their workplaces.  While there is no date certain for businesses to reopen, employers can use these guidelines to develop new processes and procedures for ensuring worker safety and a smooth operational transition. Governor Newsom or local officials may develop additional or more restrictive mandates in addition to the federal guidelines. Specifically, these new guidelines encourage employers to develop and implement policies regarding: Social…

Following the April 7, 2020 Worker Protection Order issued by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an Ordinance adding additional safeguards for workers (defined as an “employee or an independent contractor, that either physically works at a retail location that is open to the public and sells groceries, or shops or picks up prepared foods, groceries and other orders from a Restaurant, Retail Grocery Store and/or Retail Drug…

Written by Brandon Takahashi and Brian Casillas Effective immediately, employers in the City of Los Angeles must provide face coverings and take additional steps to protect employees. On April 7, 2020, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued a Worker Protection Order (“Order”) (revised on April 9, 2020) ordering further protections for City of Los Angeles non-medical essential workers (as provided in Paragraph 5(vii) of the City of Los Angeles Safer at Home Emergency Order) requiring…