On December 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued updated guidance concerning the recommended quarantine period for individuals following a “close contact” exposure to someone with COVID-19. The guidance reduces the recommended quarantine period from 14 days to either 10 days or seven days, depending on whether the individual tested negative for
The First Amendment in Employment and Education – Five Issues for 2021
This year saw perhaps the largest public protests in American history, one of the most contentious election years, vast public use of social media to achieve political and social goals, and harsh debate on whether government mandates designed to combat the pandemic infringe constitutional rights, including the right to free expression. Free speech challenges rose
LCW to Present Eight Workshops at the 2020 Community College League of California Annual Convention
We are thrilled to present and sponsor the 2020 Community College League of California Annual Convention taking place virtually this week (November 17 – 20)! Don’t miss our eight scheduled conference presentations by our expert speakers. Topics include return to campus issues, layoffs, negotiating in stressful budgetary times, and much, much more.
November 17
12:30pm
Back to School – Educating Employers on Leave Under the FFCRA as Their Employees’ Children Return to Classes
As students return to school this fall, parents find themselves learning new vocabulary terms, such as “remote learning,” “distance learning,” “synchronous or asynchronous instruction,” and “learning pods.” Parents are also learning how to juggle their own work, either from home or onsite, and their children’s instruction. Employers have probably been receiving requests from employees to
Special Bulletin: Second Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against New Title IX Regulations; the Compliance Deadline Remains August 14, 2020
In a lawsuit involving sixteen states and the District of Columbia, including California, filed against the U.S. Department of Education challenging the new regulations governing how sexual harassment allegations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 must be adjudicated, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols denied the States’ request for a delay pending
The Kristin Smart Campus Safety Act: What It Is, Why It’s Important, and a Missing Student Remembered
This Memorial Day weekend marks the 24th anniversary of the disappearance of Kristin Smart, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo who disappeared in the early morning hours of May 25, 1996 while walking to her dormitory following a party. Kristin Smart was reported missing to the
Is This Being Recorded? Navigating FERPA in the Virtual Classroom
When the COVID-19 outbreak reached California, schools throughout the state converted traditional classes to a distance education model for millions of students seemingly overnight. Distance education programs rely on a combination of websites, programs/applications, and other technologies to deliver content, facilitate communication, administer exams, and more. Video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom) with screen sharing features
The Long-Awaited FLSA Salary Basis Update Is Finally Here – What This Means For California Public Education Employers
This article was authored by Brian P. Walter and Lars T. Reed.
Today, September 24, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced a final rule modifying the weekly salary and annual compensation threshold levels for white collar exemptions to FLSA overtime requirements. The final rule will become effective on January 1, 2020. It
Kids Are Heading Back to School: Does Your Agency Have A School Activity Leave Policy?
It’s no secret that it can be a challenge for employees to balance work and family obligations. One measure taken by the California legislature to increase work/life balance is the establishment of school activity leave under section 230.8 of the California Labor Code. Below are answers to employers’ most frequently asked questions regarding this lesser-known
California Court of Appeals Further Clarifies STRS’ Authority to Collect Overpayments Made to Retirees
Over the last several years, the California Courts of Appeal have addressed questions regarding the California State Teachers’ Retirement System’s (CalSTRS) ability to collect overpayments of monthly retirement benefits paid to retirees because of, among other things, miscalculations of the retirees’ compensation earnable. A Court of Appeal handed down the most recent case, Blaser v.