Publications

Up-to-date information for employers on topics and issues that may affect workplace operations. The posts are current as of the date of the posting.

Preventing Costly Form I-9 Mistakes

By Jennifer Shaw and Megan Donaghey | The Daily Recorder | January 3, 2022

Employers know they must confirm the identity and work authorization of each new hire by completing a Form I-9.  The Form I-9 is complex, and failure to properly complete it can lead to the imposition of hefty fines by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and...

MAKING MANDATORY EEO TRAINING EFFECTIVE

By Jennifer Shaw and Eric Glassman | The Daily Recorder | December 13, 2021

Come 2022, many California employers will once again need to make plans to provide mandatory EEO and “abusive conduct” training to all employees. Senate Bill 1343 became law in 2019, requiring employers to provide training every two years, with an initial training...

New California Workplace Laws (Part Two)

By Jennifer Shaw and Julia Melnicoe Insel | The Daily Recorder | November 18, 2021

As we discussed in our previous article, “New California Workplace Law, Part One,” employers must be aware of a number of new California employment laws. Below is a brief summary of Part Two. Of course, employers should seek advice from experienced employment counsel...

New California Workplace Laws (Part One)

By Jennifer Shaw and Julia Melnicoe Insel | The Daily Recorder | November 15, 2021

2021 brought employers an avalanche of new laws and ever-changing COVID-19 obligations. The good news is that the California Legislature gave employers a bit of a break this session, and the changes for 2022 are not too overwhelming. Below is a brief summary of some...

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT ROUND UP

By Jennifer Brown Shaw and Trish Higgins | The Daily Recorder | October 4, 2021

The California Supreme Court issued several employment law decisions during the past year.  We summarize below the most important of these rulings. Donohue v. AMN Services To simplify timekeeping calculations, many employers have adopted “rounding practices” in which...

LGBTQ+ PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE

By Jennifer Shaw and Melissa Whitehead | The Daily Recorder | August 3, 2021

Federal workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees have expanded significantly since the United State Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. Unlike federal law, California has long considered sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender...

SCOTUS EMPLOYMENT LAW DECISIONS 2020-2021

By Jennifer Brown Shaw and Brooke Kozak | The Daily Recorder | July 6, 2021

Since our last annual United States Supreme Court roundup article, the Court issued four decisions that may affect California employers. We summarize these rulings below. Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru The First Amendment generally prohibits...

RETURNING TO THE WORKPLACE

By Jennifer Shaw and Alayna Schroeder | The Daily Recorder | May 10, 2021

In early 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began, many California employers quickly mobilized their workforces to perform their jobs remotely. Now, as California moves toward regular business operations, many employers are ready to reopen their workplaces.  However, the...

INCREASED COVID-19-RELATED SAFETY ENFORCEMENT

By Jennifer Shaw and Melissa Whitehead | The Daily Recorder | April 30, 2021

Because of “COVID fatigue,” and the increasing number of vaccinated individuals in the workforce, many employers are becoming lax in their COVID-19 prevention efforts, such as social distancing and requiring facial masks. To avoid potential OSHA and Cal/OSHA citations...

“MANDATED REPORTER” REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR EMPLOYEES

By Jennifer Shaw and Megan Donaghey | The Daily Recorder | March 29, 2021

California law imposes various requirements on employers who hire minors.  In addition to rules regarding the use of certain equipment (such as knives and balers) and requiring school-approved work permits, as of January 1, 2021, public and private sector employers...

PAY DATA REPORTING DEADLINE LOOMS

By Jennifer Brown Shaw and JR Riddel | The Daily Recorder | March 5, 2021

Pursuant to a new law effective January 1, 2021, California employers must submit pay data reports to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) by March 31, 2021.  In February, the DFEH issued guidance regarding the new requirement, including a...

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