Saturday, June 10, 2023
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James W. Ward joined the CalChamber in June 2019 as an employment law subject matter expert/legal writer and editor. He enhances the ongoing efforts of the CalChamber legal affairs team to explain for nonlawyers how statutes, regulations and court cases affect California businesses and employers. Ward came to the CalChamber following his time as an associate attorney at Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard of Sacramento, where he provided advice and counsel to public and private employers on labor and employment matters. He holds a B.A. in humanities, magna cum laude, and an M.A. in history from California State University, Sacramento. He earned his J.D. with great distinction from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.

Labor Contractor Employee Pay Data Report Deferral Available

This year, large employers must submit their California pay data reports by May 10, 2023 — a deadline that is quickly approaching. However, the...

State Health Department, Cal/OSHA Update COVID-19 Order, Guidance

On March 3, 2023, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated its COVID-19 public health order and guidance following the end of the...

Employers Don’t Need to Count Overtime Twice in Percentage Bonuses

A California Court of Appeals ruled recently in favor of a federal method for calculating percentage bonuses rather than a state method the court...

New California Law Expands Pay Scale Disclosure, Pay Data Reporting

Legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom last week requires employers to make pay scales available to job applicants and employees and expands California’s pay...

U.S. High Court Ruling Supports Arbitration

In a win for California employers, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that individual claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) can...

California Minimum Wage Projected to Increase to $15.50

On May 12, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California’s minimum wage is projected to increase to $15.50 per hour for all employers, regardless of...

Cal/OSHA Updates Guidance on COVID-19 Emergency Standard

Last weekend, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) posted fact sheets and an update to its frequently asked questions about the...

New Federal Law Prohibits Mandatory Arbitration of Sexual Harassment, Assault Claims

Last week, President Joe Biden signed legislation making pre-dispute arbitration agreements and class action waivers invalid and unenforceable for claims of sexual harassment or...

California Relaxes Mask Rules Again, Updates Workplace Safety Rules

California took another step forward this week in its efforts to move past the pandemic by relaxing its face covering rules for unvaccinated individuals...

State Lifts Universal Indoor Mask Requirement

California’s universal mask requirement for vaccinated individuals expired this week, but unvaccinated persons still are required to mask up in indoor public settings and...

Quick Preview of New and 2022 California Employment Laws

Following is a quick look at some of the new employment laws about which employers should be aware. Unless otherwise stated, the new laws...

California Fair Employment Department Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance

On March 4, 2021, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) updated its COVID-19 guidance, addressing several vaccination-related questions. The updated guidance...

California Releases Employer COVID-19 Compliance Portal

As the COVID-19 pandemic approaches the one-year mark, federal, state and local governments have spent the last year continually developing new laws, regulations, ordinances,...

HRWatchdog Explains Documenting, Calculating Employees’ Leaves

To address employers’ lingering questions about the requirements of the federal law providing COVID-19-related emergency paid sick leave and emergency family and medical leave,...

Reminder: Families First Coronavirus Response Act Now in Effect

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), federal legislation President Trump signed on March 18, 2020, providing paid sick leave (PSL) and emergency family...

Guidance on Temporary CalWARN Suspension for COVID-19

As previously reported, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on March 17 temporarily suspending the notice requirements of California’s Worker Adjustment and...

President Signs Bill Expanding Paid Sick/Family Leave

This week, President Donald J. Trump signed legislation that expands employee benefits and protections related to COVID-19. The additional emergency relief legislation known as the...