We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful in your negotiations.

Alexander Volberding
Department of Labor Publishes AI Principles for Developers and Employers

Late last year, President Biden issued Executive Order No. 14110 laying out his Administration’s policy directions to federal agencies concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) by individuals and organizations under their jurisdiction.
In response to the Executive Order, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) published a list of “Principles for Developers and Employers” (“DOL AI…
Changes to Paid Sick Leave Obligations Are Coming: Be Sure to Have the Right Policies in Place Before the Year Ends.

On October 4, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 616 into law.
SB 616 amends the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Labor Code sections 245-249) to increase the minimum number of paid sick days to which employees, including public employees, are entitled as well as the minimum number of days employees may…
How Public Employers Should Respond to Notice of a Workplace Health and Safety Complaint

After three years of COVID-19, many employers are familiar with the occupational safety and health regulations that relate to that specific workplace hazard and the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Division” or “DOSH”) which enforces those regulations. (Note: The Division is often referred to as Cal/OSHA.)
However, even with COVID-19 (hopefully) disappearing into the…
Managing Practical and Legal Concerns Related to MPX in the Workplace
Less than two and a half years after proclaiming a state of emergency related to COVID-19, Governor Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the ongoing monkeypox (“MPX”) outbreak. While the number of MPX cases in California is relatively small compared to the number of COVID-19 cases and the outbreak less likely…
CDPH Redefines “Close Contact” and “Infectious Period,” Changing Workplace COVID-19 Prevention Requirements
On June 8, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) adopted new definitions for two terms that are critical to determining how employers must respond to COVID-19 cases in the workplace: “close contact” and “infectious period.”[1]
The updated definitions will affect employer obligations under both CDPH health orders that use such terms and…
Legal Obligations in the Event of a COVID-19 Outbreak in the Workplace
This post originally appeared in January 2022.
In light of the current surge in COVID-19 cases, it is important that employers understand their obligations in the event that there is a COVID-19 outbreak at one of their workplaces.
This blog post is intended to provide an overview of the various statutory and regulatory obligations
…
Updated CDPH Guidance Removes Face Covering Requirements in Most Settings
On February 28, 2022, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) updated its guidance concerning the use of face coverings to further relax those requirements.
While the updated CDPH guidance continues to require the use of face covering in certain high-risk settings,[1] the guidance removes those requirements in most other circumstances:
- Effective March 1,
…
Governor Enacts New COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law
On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 114[1] into law. The law reauthorizes COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”), providing paid leave entitlements to employees who are unable to work or telework due to a number of qualifying reasons related to COVID-19. The law becomes effective on February 19, 2022 and…
State Legislature Considers Bill to Reauthorize SPSL
This week, the California Legislature is considering the adoption of Assembly Bill (“AB”) 84, which would reauthorize COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”). If passed, the bill would require that most employers in the state provide paid sick leave to employees for certain reasons related to COVID-19.
Earlier this week, the State Senate adopted AB…