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.

Lisa S. Charbonneau
Lisa represents public agencies throughout the state as a negotiator, litigator, and trusted advisor in all matters pertaining to labor and employment law. She has extensive experience in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and wage and hour compliance, labor relations, collective bargaining, MOU audits, PERB practice, and public employee disciplinary matters. She also represents independent schools and non-profits in wage and hour matters.
Lisa has served as lead negotiator for small and large public agencies in labor negotiations with public safety unions and numerous other employee associations and organizations, including Teamsters, SEIU, AFSCME, police/deputy sheriffs associations, and the International Association of Firefighters. Lisa takes a hands-on approach to bargaining and strives to be highly responsive to the unique needs of each client and their governing body.
Lisa also has an extensive litigation background in federal and state court, and has achieved successful results for clients in matters ranging from wage and hour to First Amendment retaliation. As one of the firm’s FLSA litigators, Lisa has represented numerous cities, counties, and special districts in FLSA collective actions throughout the state. She has also represented clients in arbitrations and fact-finding hearings, as well as before the Public Employee Relations Board, the California Labor Commissioner, the U.S. Department of Labor, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
A significant part of Lisa’s practice involves counseling clients on the meet and confer process and FLSA issues. She also conducts FLSA audits for clients, which range in scope from reviewing employer compliance with discrete wage and hour laws to assisting with payroll system upgrades and modifications to achieve compliance with wage and hour laws. Her practice also includes training on such subjects as ethics, discrimination and harassment, FLSA compliance, the collective bargaining process, and the Brown Act.
Lisa serves on the Executive Committee of the firm’s Wage and Hour Practice Group and has taught LCW’s FLSA Academy since its inception.
Lisa received her JD from U.C. Hastings College of the Law in 2006 and was admitted to the California State Bar in December of that year. While at Hastings, Lisa served as an Equal Justice America fellow and received a grant to work on community economic development issues for the City of Detroit. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Government from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, and soon after that worked at a bi-weekly political magazine in Washington, D.C. until she began to pursue her law degree.
Special Wage and Hour Laws for Summer Employees: Are Lifeguards and Camp Counselors Exempt?
This post appeared in June 2015. It has been reviewed and is up to date.
Many schools, colleges, and municipalities operate special programs and camps during the summer months. Staffing these programs and camps frequently involves hiring temporary or “seasonal” personnel, such as lifeguards, camp counselors, swim instructors and boathouse attendants. In recognition that…
Tips from the Table: MMBA Information Requests
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.
Wage & Hour: The Difference & Nuance of Call-Back & Standby
We are excited to introduce our video series – Wage & Hour Issues in the Workplace. In these videos, members of LCW’s Wage & Hour practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented in your workplace. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful!
The US Department of Labor Sets Forth New Guidance Regarding the Classification of Independent Contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act
On January 7, 2021, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule establishing new guidance on classifying individuals as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The new guidance is set forth in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations at Part 795.100 et seq. and is available online…
A Suburban Cabana Battle Clarifies Brown Act’s Pending Litigation Disclosure Requirements
The California Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act) requires public agencies to conduct agency business in public at properly noticed open meetings, subject to very narrow exceptions. Under the Brown Act, meeting agendas must be published seventy-two hours prior to the governing body’s meeting. A legislative body cannot act on Items not on the agenda.…
DOL Proposes New Rule to Broaden Application of Fluctuating Workweek Method of Calculating Overtime
There are two ways an FLSA covered employer may pay a nonexempt employee a fixed salary: the employer may pay a salary for a specific number of hours each week or the employer may pay a salary for whatever number of hours are worked in the week. Payment of a fixed salary for fluctuating hours…
PERB Holds that Its Jurisdiction Includes Claims Brought By Employee Organizations that Represent Police Officers and Deputy Sheriffs
On July 15, 2019, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) issued a decision in the case, Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs v. County of Orange, PERB Decision No. 2657-M. At issue in the case was whether PERB has jurisdiction to hear claims brought by employee organizations that represent peace officers as that…
A 3.8 Million Dollar Jury Verdict Is A Good Reminder That The FLSA Guarantees Break Time For Nursing Mothers
This post was authored by Lisa S. Charbonneau.
A recent jury decision from the federal trial court in Arizona shows how expensive it can be to ignore a federal law that requires employers to provide mothers with nursing children accommodations to express breast milk.
In 2010, Congress added section 7(r) to the Fair Labor…
DOL Proposes Changes to the Rules Governing Payments to Exclude from the Regular Rate
This Special Bulletin was authored by Lisa S. Charbonneau
On March 29, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) published proposed new rules on the Regular Rate requirements (i.e., the rate at which overtime must be paid) under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The proposed rules may be found here. The comment period for…