Cal/OSHA Revises COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) for Third Time
On April 21, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) approved a third readoption of the California Division of Occupational Safety and...
Harassment Outside of Work? Employer Still Must Respond to Complaint
One of my supervisors just reported to me that they received complaints about harassment from a coworker but did not report them to us...
Child Care Issues Can Prompt Move to Create Alternative Schedule
My hourly employee asked for a flexible schedule where she would work four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days due to child care...
Minimum Wage Hikes Effective January 1 Include Local Rate Increases
I just heard West Hollywood passed a local minimum wage ordinance. How do local minimum wage ordinances interact with the statewide minimum wage and...
Key Considerations for Employers Returning Their Employees to the Workplace
Many employers in California are in the process of returning their employees to the workplace on either a full-time or part-time basis. For some...
Applicant’s Workers’ Comp Claim History Can’t Be Used for Screening
We work in an industry that is at a higher risk for workplace injury. In an effort to keep our workers’ compensation costs lower,...
Clearing Confusion About Current COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rules
Each day I see new reports on what the requirements are for wearing masks at work. How do I figure out what my company...
Employers Not Required to Provide Holiday Pay for Federal Holidays
Now that Juneteenth (June 19) has become a federal holiday, are we required to provide holiday pay to our employees for that day?
When President...
What to Do When an Employee Complains About ‘Discrimination’
An employee complained to me that a co-worker frequently yells at the employee for parking in the wrong spot and says that the co-worker...
American Rescue Plan Act Brings More Financial Relief
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), creating a third stimulus package since...
CFRA Expansion Complicates Leave for Furloughed Employees
We have furloughed an employee. This employee now wants to take baby bonding leave after the birth of his child. Is the employee’s job...
Congress Declines to Extend Families First Coronavirus Act Mandate
On December 27, 2020, President Donald Trump signed a second stimulus package addressing the economy and the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many issues resolved...
California’s New Series of COVID-19 Reporting Requirements
One of my employees just reported that they tested positive for COVID-19. Do I have to report this positive case?
During the 2020 California legislative...
How Leave Laws Interact When a Couple Works for Same Employer
How do the federal COVID-19 leave laws adopted this year interact with related state laws, including pregnancy leave, the family rights act and baby...
Vacation Policy Factors to Consider During COVID-19 Pandemic
A consequence of the prolonged shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders issued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically reduced travel. As a result,...
U.S. Supreme Court Extends Sexual Orientation, Transgender Protections
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-awaited ruling on whether a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity fall within Title VII of...
Federal Government Amends Paycheck Protection Program Rules
As COVID-19 began to impact businesses, the federal government resolved to help by creating the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offers loans to help...