California

Subscribe to California via RSS

On September 28, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1731 (“AB 1731”), which creates an alternative process for employers to submit and be approved for work-sharing plan programs. Previously some employees would be eligible for unemployment benefits if they were working less than their usual weekly hours and their employer was participating in a work-sharing…

On September 28, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1384, which (1) expands the California Labor Commissioner’s representation to arbitrations for claimants who cannot afford counsel, (2) requires employers to serve petitions to compel arbitration on the Labor Commissioner, and (3) allows the Labor Commissioner to represent claimants in proceedings to determine whether arbitration…

On August 31st, the California legislature closed its 2019 – 2020 session with the Assembly and Senate passing over 35 employment-related bills. However, thus far, the only employment-related bill the Governor has signed is Assembly Bill 3364 (“AB 3364”). AB 3364, titled “Judiciary omnibus,” covers a myriad of items from the licensure of…

On August 28th, Governor Newsom announced new reopening plans for California in hopes of preventing another COVID-19 surge. The plan incorporates information learned over the past six months in addition to new scientific discoveries to create a system for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. It involves a four-tiered color system that ranks counties based on…

With the increase in COVID-19 cases in California and across the nation, employers are faced with a number of new challenges in the workplace, one of which is determining when employees may return to work after they have tested positive for the virus. Unfortunately, there have been mixed messages from state and federal authorities on…

As fire season starts and some areas of California and several other states are attempting to contain wildfires, employers need to consider their obligations to employees. In some circumstances, employers must implement a variety of controls to protect employees from wildfire smoke, including engineering and administrative controls, or require the use of personal protective equipment…

Changes in local regulations across California continue to shift the legal landscape for employers, bringing massive implications to their business. On August 18, 2020, Sonoma County passed a paid sick leave ordinance (the “Sonoma Ordinance”), which took effect immediately and sunsetting on December 31, 2020.  The Sonoma Ordinance brings sweeping changes to businesses in unincorporated…