On August 30, 2019, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1554, which requires employers to notify employees of the deadline to withdraw flexible spending account funds. Many employers offer employees the opportunity to participate in flexible spending accounts. These are employer-owned accounts into which employees can put money to pay for certain eligible expenses on a
It’s That Time Again – A Look at the Truly Weird Employment Cases
Once again, the annual look at outlandish employment cases that should make you all think, “It could be worse.”
No Pot of Gold at the End of This Rainbow
The former aide of a state senator (amazingly not California) submitted a complaint to the state’s division of human rights, complaining that the state senator directed
Implanted Microchips: The (Dystopian?) Future of Employee Monitoring
I know I’ve made some very poor decisions recently,
but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal.
HAL 9000 – 2001 A Space Odyssey
Microchips for dogs and cats is nothing new. Our fluffy friends have been receiving microchips for more than 30 years, resulting in happy
Third Party Independent Contractor Agreements Do Not Guarantee Protection from CalPERS Membership
This post was authored by Kevin J. Chicas.
It is not uncommon for public agencies to contract with another organization or company to provide temporary services to cover for vacant positions. A recent decision issued by the CalPERS Board of Administration (the “Fuller” Decision) illustrates why public employers should be careful about
Leaving the Leaves to Someone Else: What Employers Should Know About Third Party Leave of Absence Administration
This post was authored by Stefanie K. Vaudreuil.
With all the possible leaves of absence that may be available to employees, ensuring consistent and accurate application of the applicable laws relating to leaves can be one of the more daunting tasks for employers. In a recent survey conducted by the Disability Management Employer Coalition
Real Strange Employment Cases About Real People
This post was authored by Stefanie K. Vaudreuil.
In this fifth annual installment of a look at some unbelievable, strange and wacky employment litigation, there remains no shortage of cases that will make you believe your human resources issues aren’t so bad after all.
The Thing That Happened on the Way to Jurassic Park
UPDATED – New Legislation Will Impact Litigation of FEHA Claims, Employer-Employee Agreements, and Necessitate Additional Employer Training
This post was authored by Geoffrey S. Sheldon & Andrew Pramschufer
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been revised from its original version that was published on October 1, 2018. The original version noted, among other things, that SB1300 amended the Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA) to extend personal liability to an employee alleged to
Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations Is Essential To Minimizing The Risk Of Liability On A Failure To Prevent Harassment Claim
This post was authored by Melanie L. Chaney.
Under Title VII and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), the employer has an affirmative obligation to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. In order to comply with this obligation, employers must investigate all complaints of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
Tattoos. Piercings. The Workplace. Like it or Not, the Millennials are the Future Workforce.
This post was authored by Stefanie K. Vaudreuil.
Keeping track of monikers for the generations since World War II can be puzzling. You have Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials, but the Millennials are also known as Generation Y. Just who are these Millennials? They were born in the 80s—enough said. The Millennials have
Is Your Agency Prepared to Manage Disaster Service Workers During a State of Emergency?
This post was authored by Lisa S. Charbonneau.
In July 2018 alone, California Governor Brown proclaimed a State of Emergency for eight counties — Lake, Mendocino, Mariposa, Napa, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Shasta, and Siskiyou Counties — due to fires, and proclaimed a State of Emergency in San Bernardino County due to damage