Originally published for HR California
A recent California Court of Appeal decision serves as a critical reminder for employers about the importance of clear policies and fair treatment in the workplace. Wawrzenski v. United Airlines, Inc. deals ...
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Updates
2025 Compliance in Ten Steps
California's annual expansion of employer obligations can overwhelm even the most seasoned of HR practitioners. New regulations, statutes, and case law combine to tax every HR Department. Keeping up takes time and resources – and both can be falling ...
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End of the Year Reminders
The end of the year poses unique challenges for employers seeking to reward employees and at the same time stay compliant with hyper-technical legal mandates. No aspect of employment relationships is simple or intuitive in California and that is ...
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New California Law Limits Employer’s Ability to Require a Driver’s License for Job Applicants
Effective January 1, 2025, job postings, applications and other pre-employment materials cannot indicate that an applicant must have a driver’s license unless certain conditions are satisfied.
New FEHA Amendment
On September 28, 2024, Governor ...
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PAGA Exemption for Unionized Construction Industry Employers Extended to 2038
Background
The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 generally enables California employees to sue their employers on behalf of themselves and other “aggrieved employees” to recover civil penalties for Labor Code violations. In 2018, legislation ...
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Public Employers Not Subject to PAGA, Private Employers Must Still Comply
Originally published for HR California
California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) allows aggrieved employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees and the state of California for Labor ...
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California Supreme Court Affirms that Single Use of N-Word Can Be Severe Enough to Constitute Harassment Under FEHA
On July 29, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion in Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney’s Office reaffirming that the single use of a racial epithet can be severe enough to constitute actionable harassment under the California ...
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Severance Agreements: The Importance of Minding Your P’s and Q’s
When it comes time to terminate an employee or institute a reduction-in-force or layoff, many companies choose to offer severance to help the separated employee transition to future employment. Indeed, the offer of severance pay and/or reimbursement ...
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