In Stone v. Alameda Health System, the California Supreme Court considered whether all public entities that are not specifically governmental in nature are exempt from the obligations in the Labor Code such as meal and rest breaks and overtime, and whether penalties available under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) apply to public entities.
Fast Food Council Redux
On September 28, 2023 , Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1228, completing the agreement reached between business and labor in early September regarding the FAST Recovery Act.
On September 11, 2023, the coalition of California businesses announced its agreement with labor unions to withdraw their referendum challenging Assembly Bill (AB) 257, which
Back to FAST Recovery: Business and Labor Reach Agreement
On September 11, 2023, the coalition of California businesses announced its agreement with labor unions to withdraw their referendum challenging Assembly Bill (AB) 257, which created the FAST Recovery Act, from next year’s ballot.
Last year, Governor Newsom signed AB 257. The Act established a Fast Food Council comprising fast food employees, worker advocates
California Revives Industrial Wage Commission
On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 102 which will amend the Budget Act of 2023. The bill will take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.
While appropriations bills such as AB 102 are generally not of much interest to private employers, AB 102 is noteworthy because it includes a $3,000,000 appropriation
Not so FAST – AB 257 on Hold Pending Voter Referendum in 2024
On January 24, 2023, the California Secretary of State completed its verification process and qualified a referendum challenging Assembly Bill (AB) 257, also known as the FAST Recovery Act for the November 2024 ballot. In the meantime, the law will not take effect unless it is approved by voters in the November 2024 election.
Governor
Preliminary Injunction GRANTED Against AB 257 Enforcement & Implementation
While the Secretary of State continued to count signatures to determine if a potential referendum challenging the FAST Recovery Act (AB 257) will make it on the ballot, the Sacramento Superior Court has issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the implementation or enforcement of AB 257. The injunction will remain in effect unless and until either:
Temporary Restraining Order Against the FAST Recovery Act
While the Secretary of State continued to count signatures to determine if a potential referendum on the FAST Recovery Act (the Act) will make it on the ballot, a lawsuit was filed by a coalition of California small business owners, restaurateurs, franchisees, and related entities seeking to enjoin the enforcement of the Act.
California Supreme Court Cases Employers Should be Watching in 2023
2022 brought several significant decisions from the California Supreme Court, from decisions about meal and rest period penalties to burden shifting for whistleblower retaliation claims.
Here are some of the cases currently pending before the state’s high court that employers should be watching and what they mean for employment law in the Golden State.
Referendum Seeks to Send FAST Recovery Act to California Voters
On Labor Day, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 257, known as the FAST Recovery Act. The Act establishes a Fast Food Council comprising fast food employees, worker advocates, franchisors, franchisees, and government officials from the Department of Industrial Relations and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The Council will have the
Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidance for the Golden State
At the beginning of December, the CDC issued new guidance regarding the length of quarantine. Although the new CDC guidance was not definitive in shortening the quarantine period, it did provide options to local health departments to shorten the quarantine period, if they determined it appropriate.
On December 14th, the California