Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments
On February 19, 2022, the newest statewide COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave took effect.
California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) has published an FAQ Page to provide guidance regarding COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL).
The new FAQ page covers questions pertaining to the following:
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Last year, a divided Ninth Circuit panel found that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) did not completely preempt Assembly Bill (AB) 51, California’s ban on mandatory arbitration agreements. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce then filed a petition for rehearing en banc (Petition), which has been pending before the Ninth Circuit since October 2021.
On…
On February 19, 2022, 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave goes into effect. The legislation, similar to 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave, requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide paid leave for reasons related to COVID-19, including the need to isolate or quarantine or to care for a family member who needs…
In a recent decision, Peck v. Swift Transportation, the 9th Circuit dismissed an objector’s appeal of the district court’s approval of a Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) settlement.
The parties reached a proposed class and PAGA settlement. A truck driver who was not a party to the action, Lawrence Peak (Peak), objected to…
In a recent decision, the California Court of Appeal held that a non-solicitation covenant was enforceable based on an exemption under California Business & Professions Code section 16601. The court stated, “contractual provisions that prevent a person from engaging in a profession, trade or business are generally void.” However, in the underlying case, the court…
On February 9, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 114 which resurrects COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) for 2022.
The following are answers that employers need to their questions regarding the latest edition of California SPSL.
When does SPSL become effective?
SPSL becomes effective February 19, 2022, 10 days after enactment.…
In January the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) extended universal masking indoors through February 15, 2022, due to a continued COVID-19 surge. In advance of the expiration, Governor Newsom announced that universal masking would not be extended again. The CDPH also published mask guidance for after February 15th.
Effective February 16,…
The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has been in the news lately with a proposed state Proposition seeking to reform it, and the Supreme Court taking up a case regarding PAGA and arbitrations. Though recent developments give hope to employers that some limitations will be placed on PAGA claims, the filing of PAGA…
Under federal law, there is the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) which sets forth certain requirements for businesses who are closing locations and/or proceeding with large-scale reductions in force. As is typical for the state, California has separate WARN regulations often referred to as Cal-WARN.
Here are some of the important differences between…
January 31st was the last day for the California legislature to approve bills that had been initially introduced in 2021 before they are shelved for good. The FAST Recovery Act (Assembly Bill (AB 257) was such a bill.
AB 257 would create an 11 member Fast Food Sector Council appointed by the…
