It happens all the time. A poor performing, or even blatant policy-violating former employee applies for unemployment. The immediate reflex by most employers is to contest it. Good idea? Well, it really depends. If the...more
Following a trend in California regarding increased leniency for those with conviction records, and ensuring that formerly incarcerated people are not unduly burdened by their past, Governor Newsom recently signed SB-731 into...more
It may be the season for a pumpkin latte and too much candy, or finally breaking out those soft sweaters and fuzzy slippers as the weather starts to chill (even in Los Angeles). But it is also the season for new lawsuits. In...more
One of the new bills recently passed (AB 749) prohibits standard “No Rehire” provisions in settlement agreements and general releases. These provisions typically read something like this:
No Future Employment. Employee...more
It is that time of year. We continue to wait for the Governor to sign or veto some controversial bills such as:-
The Stand Act (prohibiting confidentiality in harassment and sexual assault settlements); and...more
ICE workplace audits are on the rise. And if you didn’t know, the federal government and California are not harmonious in their views on immigration issues. That means that ICE raids on California employers are likely to...more
It happens more often than you think. An employee in good standing is “outed” as being listed on a sex offender registry. His/her coworkers are up in arms. Now what? Can he/she be fired?...more
Spring is here! And for those of us in sunny Southern California that means it is music festival season. First up is Coachella and then Stagecoach, with more to follow until October. Days and nights filled with music, food,...more
The news is full of stories of employers taking action, or allegedly not taking sufficient action, for employee off duty conduct. The issues are vast and varied, ranging from communicating views about coworkers’ intellectual...more
After a flurry of activity in February, the news has been relatively quiet at Uber until this week. We knew that reports of harassment by lady engineers triggered a massive investigation, and at the time, news reports...more
Yes, I am still obsessed about all things Uber these days. That said, I have been ruminating over one development last week that just didn’t sit right with me.
On the one hand, I know firsthand how that bro-centric...more
California’s Fair Pay Act, already the broadest in the nation, has now been expanded in two key aspects:
First, the Governor approved SB 1063, so that the Fair Pay Act now protects against race-based disparities in pay. ...more