California Workplace Law Blog

Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments

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By: Jackson Lewis P.C.

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Latest from California Workplace Law Blog

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), within the federal Department of Transportation, is responsible for regulating commercial motor carrier safety.  In 2018, the FMCSA determined that federal law preempts California’s meal and rest break rules for interstate motor carrier drivers who are subject to the FMCSA’s rest break regulations. The FMCSA regulations apply to commercial motor carrier drivers who operate in interstate commerce and meet other specified criteria. California’s meal and rest break…
In Vazquez v. Jan-Pro Franchising International (Vazquez), the California Supreme Court answered “Yes” to the Ninth Circuit’s question, “Does your independent contractor ABC test in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court (Dynamex) apply retroactively?” In 2018, the Dynamex Court concluded that under California wage orders, anyone who performs work for a business is presumed to be an employee entitled to the protections afforded by the wage orders. The Dynamex Court also held that a…
California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) continues to advance toward the March 31, 2021 pay data collection deadline.  When SB 973 was passed in September, DFEH had six months to develop and implement a data collection system that could accomplish the task.  It is delivering.  DFEH issued its first guidance on November 2 and released more FAQs on November 23.  And now, DFEH has again released new FAQs and updated its …
At the end of 2020, California approved the Division of Occupational Safety & Health’s (“Cal OSHA”) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”). Among the many requirements in the new ETS, Cal OSHA imposed a performance-based obligation on employers to establish and implement an effective COVID-19 Prevention Program, COVID-19 preventive measures (e.g., social distancing and mandatory use of face coverings), and COVID-19 case management (e.g., investigation, recording, and reporting). In establishing these requirements, the ETS also…
The City of San Jose recently passed an ordinance extending its supplemental paid sick leave ordinance until June 30, 2021 and expanding it to apply to all employers with employees working in San Jose. Extension When it was first passed, San Jose’s supplemental paid sick leave ordinance was set to expire on December 31, 2020. In late 2020, the City committed to extending the ordinance into 2021 but waited to see if the Emergency Paid…
The Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the administrative agency charged with enforcing the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), has released new documentation for Family and Medical Leave that reflects the expansion of CFRA which went into effect on January 1, 2021. These new documents include the required poster for employers for both Family and Medical Leave as well as for Pregnancy Disability Leave. Employers should be sure to update their posters and…
2020 presented a myriad of challenges for California employers, including the constant march of California court opinions regarding the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims. The California courts focused on two issues involving PAGA this year: Can a Plaintiff proceed with their PAGA claim (standing)? Can a Defendant compel arbitration when there is a PAGA claim? Standing Cases The biggest PAGA standing decision in 2020 was from the California Supreme Court in Kim v. Reins …
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) has released the Voluntary Plan Employee Contribution and Benefit Rates for 2021. Employers are required to withhold and send state disability contributions to the EDD. The 2021 rates are as follows: Employee Contribution Rate 1.2% Taxable Wage Ceiling (per employee per year) $128,298.00 Maximum Contribution (per employee per year) $1,539.58 Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) $1,357.00 Maximum Benefit Amount (WBA X 52 weeks) $70,564.00 Assessment Rate 0.14% The…
In mid-November, as cases continued to rise, the California Department of Public Health issued a “travel advisory” which recommended quarantining for those who returned to the state from other states or countries. The advisory distinguished between “non-essential travel” such as tourism and “essential travel” such as for work, study, economic services, immediate medical care, or health and safety. Before the state advisory, the County of Santa Clara issued an order which required all…
2020 has been a year of constant changes for California employers. Here are some big developments that employers cannot afford to miss in 2021. Expansion of the California Family Rights Act One of the biggest legislative changes facing California employers in 2021 will be the expansion of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Currently, employers with 50 or more employees are subject to CFRA and its federal equivalent, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Both provide…