When The End Is Near for Departing Employees, Don’t Do It Your Way
Latest from California Peculiarities Employment Law Blog
Constructive Solution for PAGA? CBA Waivers for Construction Employers
Seyfarth Synopsis: AB 1654 provides a PAGA exemption for certain employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. While AB 1654 is limited to the construction industry, its underlying rationale applies much more broadly, and may augur further thoughtful restrictions on PAGA’s broad scope.
California’s Private Attorneys General Act, imposing draconian penalties for even relatively trivial Labor Code violations, remains the bane of California employers. Efforts to restrict PAGA’s scope thus arise from time to time…
Attention California Employers! Cal/OSHA Issues Notice of Emergency Regulation for Electronic Submission of CY 2017 Form 300A by December 31, 2018
By Joshua M. Henderson, Ilana R. Morady, James L. Curtis, and Craig B. Simonsen
Seyfarth Synopsis: CalOSHA published a news release TODAY, on a new emergency regulation for the electronic submission of CY 2017 Form 300A on Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. CalOSHA submitted the rule yesterday, and will allow public comments until Tuesday, October 30th, with the intention of adopting it as final by November 5th!
According to CalOSHA, businesses operating in…
Treating Employees To Halloween Fun Can Be Tricky
Seyfarth Synopsis: Halloween is lurking just around the corner, and workplace festivities may present unusual challenges. Unsafe or offensive costumes, religious discrimination, and harassment are among the issues potentially facing employers around this time of year. Here are some tips to avoid the tricks and enjoy the treats.
Exorcise Your Right to Have Fun
It’s not uncommon to allow employees to dress up when Halloween falls on a weekday, but without proper guidelines, it can…
A California Pickle: Should Employers Defend Alleged Harassers?
DFEH Reports Age Discrimination And Retaliation Claims On the Rise
Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing issues a yearly report describing its complaint and litigation trends. Below is the Reader’s Digest™ version.
The DFEH recently issued its 2017 Annual Report covering its fifth year in active litigation. In 2013, the California Legislature authorized the DFEH to file lawsuits under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), California’s stricter version of federal anti-discrimination law, as well as under the Unruh Civil Rights…
Governor Brown Vetoes Legislative Attempt to Criminalize Mandatory Arbitration
Seyfarth Synopsis: In vetoing the California Legislature’s attempt to criminalize arbitration agreements (AB 3080), Governor Brown displayed common sense and the legal learning provided by recent U.S. Supreme Court authority.
Haven’t high courts already upheld mandatory arbitration agreements?
Yes, they have. The California and U.S. Supreme Courts have repeatedly ruled that employers may require employees to enter valid arbitration agreements (waiving the right to judge and jury trial). The most recent vindication of arbitration agreements…
CA Legislative Update: Governor Brown’s Job is Done
Seyfarth Synopsis: California Legislators sent Governor Jerry Brown 1,217 bills to consider in his final bill-signing period as Governor—more than any California governor has seen since 2004. The final tally: 1016 signed, 201 vetoed. Below is our full, final roundup of new laws that employers must comply with, bills that fell to the Governor’s veto pen, and bills that never made it to the Governor’s desk. Even though the Governor’s veto saved California employers…
How to Count to 67%: CAFA Jurisdiction in the Ninth Circuit
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Ninth Circuit, addressing how to prove exceptions under CAFA, reminds us that removal under CAFA might be an invitation for extensive preliminary discovery battles, and prolonged motion practice. The following post highlights some procedural realities of finding an appropriate venue for litigating class actions in California.
United States District Courts in California oversee some of the largest caseloads in the country.[1] Understandably reluctant to see their dockets expand, these courts…
Legislative Update: Employment Bills Already Signed, Two Weeks Remain
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Jerry Brown has already signed into law legislation covering meal period exceptions for truck drivers delivering commercial feed, adding communications to be considered as “privileged” for purposes of defamation suits, removing a reference to the seven-day waiting period for disability benefits under the paid family leave program, and clarifying salary history information.
As temperatures begin to drop, with pumpkin spiced lattes and the smells of dew in the air, things are still…