Helpline

State Meal/Rest Break Rules Include Limited, Industry-Specific Exceptions

  Are there any exceptions to California’s meal and rest break rules? As California employers know, employees in California are entitled to a 30-minute off-duty unpaid...

How Layoff Affects Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave Benefits

I’m closing down a department in my company and laying off all the employees in that department. One of the employees is on pregnancy...

State/Local Laws Restrict Use of Information on Criminal Offenses

An applicant voluntarily disclosed that when he was a minor he had a felony conviction that has since been expunged. Can we refuse to...

Overtime Exemption for Inside Sales Employees Not Like Others

Our exempt inside sales employees make a salary plus commission. Do the salary deduction limitations for exempt employees apply to these employees? No, the salary...

Options to Consider When Employee Rescinds a Resignation

Our employee gave notice yesterday that he is quitting effective two weeks from now. Today, he indicated he wants to stay after all, but...

State Starting to Revise Work Area Access Rules in Response to Feds

Our company is preparing for extensive upgrading of its facilities, including access and work surfaces. Has California’s Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) Standards Board...

Opinions Can Differ on What’s a ‘Reasonable’ Cost for Work Shoes

My company is in the manufacturing industry, and due to the nature of the business, our employees are required to wear safety shoes at...

Surrogate Pregnancy: Same Protections, Leave Rights Generally Apply

One of my employees is a gestational surrogate. What leave laws would apply to her? A gestational surrogate is someone who carries a pregnancy and...

Answers to Common State Disability Insurance Questions

How long can an employee collect State Disability Insurance (SDI)? Will SDI benefits be reduced if an employee collects sick, vacation or Paid Time...

New Rule Bans Retaliatory Drug Testing of Employees Who Report Injury

Our company has a mandatory drug testing policy in the event of an accident/injury. Does the new federal regulation incorporated into the record-keeping requirements...