What’s New in Employment Law?

Last week, I traded email alerts for the sounds of Yellowstone. I saw bison, elk, black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, and more — all moving through a vast ecosystem that somehow works without urgency, ego, or inboxes. That sight stayed with me. For leaders, unplugging...

Artificial intelligence is already changing how employers make staffing decisions. Some companies are using AI to improve efficiency. Others are using automation to reduce headcount, delay hiring, or restructure work. California lawmakers are now paying attention....

As election season heats up, employers should expect more political discussion at work, more employee social media activity outside of work, and more tension between employees with strongly held views. For California employers, the issue is not simply whether politics...

California employers already adjusted to the statewide minimum wage increase to $16.90 per hour on January 1, 2026. Beginning July 1, however, several cities and local jurisdictions will increase their own minimum wage rates, creating another compliance checkpoint for...

Most employers understand their obligation to address harassment by supervisors and coworkers. Fewer appreciate the risk posed by people who do not work for the organization at all, including customers, vendors, contractors, patients, clients, and members of the...

Most public sector employment law problems do not begin with dramatic misconduct or obvious legal violations. They begin with ordinary workplace decisions made under pressure. A supervisor informally adjusts a schedule without considering overtime implications. An...

You have seen it play out. A strong employee needs flexibility. A manager wants to help. A decision gets made in the moment, practical, human, and well-intended. No one thinks twice about it. Months later, that same decision shows up in a demand letter. This pattern...

California employers routinely underestimate cell phone reimbursement. Labor Code section 2802 requires reimbursement for necessary business expenses, including personal cell phone use. The mistake is assuming the obligation only applies when use is substantial. It...

A company hires workers and calls them independent contractors. They sign agreements. They get 1099s. Everyone is aligned with what they are. Until they’re not. That’s exactly what happened in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court—a case that reshaped how...

Artificial intelligence has quietly made its way into HR’s day-to-day work. It shows up in performance reviews, investigation summaries, interview questions, and even discipline memoranda. For busy teams, it can feel like a lifesaver. Tasks that used to take an hour...