In the latest chapter in a decade-long saga to determine if interstate drivers are subject to California’s meal and rest break rules, the Ninth Circuit affirmed that drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles are not subject to the state’s break regulations. In People of the State of California ex rel. Xavier Becerra v. Federal Motor
Shannon Bettis Nakabayashi
Hourly Wages Plus Productivity Bonuses Survive California Court of Appeal Challenge
Recently, in Mora v. C.E. Enterprises, Inc., the California Court of Appeal upheld a trial court’s decision in favor of an auto dealership alleged to have used an improper “piece rate” or “flag hours” compensation model.
Two former service technicians alleged that the dealership’s compensation system violated requirements for compensating for productive and non-productive…
California Court of Appeal Clarifies Sick Leave Calculation for Outside Sales Employees
A recent California Court of Appeal decision provides clarity for employers with commissioned outside sales employees. In Hirdman v. Charter Communications, the court confirmed that employers may calculate paid sick leave for outside salespersons using their base hourly pay, excluding commissions, as long as that’s how they calculate other forms of paid leave.…
Assembly Bill 1034: Construction Industry PAGA Exemption Extended Until 2038
- Expressly
California Supreme Court Issues Opinion on “Hours Worked”
In its recent opinion in Huerta v. CSI Electrical Contractors, the California Supreme Court addressed three inquiries posed by the 9th Circuit. These inquiries specifically relate to the definition of “hours worked” within the context of the California wage order applicable to the construction, drilling, logging, and mining industries, as well as the California labor…
California Supreme Court Cases Employers Should Watch in 2024
The California Supreme Court issued several important decisions in 2023 about issues such as COVID-19 take-home exposure and arbitrating Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) claims.
Employers should continue to be aware of several cases pending before the state’s high court. Here are the highlights and what these cases could mean for California employers.
PAGA…
Some Basics on Tips & Gratuities in California
As defined by Labor Code section 350, a “tip” or “gratuity” includes any money that has been paid, given to, or left for an employee by a patron of a business over and above the actual amount due to the business for services rendered. Tips or gratuities are distinguishable from “service charges,” which are amounts…
San Francisco’s OLSE Issues FAQs for Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance
In June, San Francisco voters approved Proposition G, which created the Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance (PHELO). The ordinance requires private employers to provide paid leave to employees for “public health emergencies.” The ordinance took effect on October 1, 2022. In conjunction with the effective date, San Francisco’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) issued…
San Francisco Voters Approved New Public Health Emergency Leave
In June, San Francisco voters passed Proposition G, a new Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance. The ordinance requires private employers to provide paid leave to employees for “public health emergencies.” The leave ordinance will be in addition to employer-provided paid leave, such as paid sick leave.
The leave ordinance will become operative on October …
Local Minimum Wages Set to Increase July 1
On January 1, 2022, California’s statewide minimum wage increased to $15.00 ($14.00 for employers with 25 employees or less). A statewide minimum of $15.00 for all businesses was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023. However, as a result of rates of inflation of over 7%, a further statutory increase has been triggered…