Employment News

AB5, the California law meant to protect Uber and Lyft drivers and other gig workers, remains embattled and uncertain on multiple fronts. We’re watching to see how the U.S. Solicitor General responds, but every development seems to spark more questions than answers.Here’s a rundown:The law, which took effect in 2020 but quickly faced challenges that put it in limbo, was intended to prevent companies from denying employment protections and benefits to their workers by misclassifying them … [Read more...]

Note: This article has been updated to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 13, 2022 rulings in two vaccine mandate cases. As efforts to increase the number of Americans who are vaccinated against COVID-19 ramp up, employees can expect to see more workplace vaccine mandates. Over the summer, the California Department of Public Health issued orders requiring certain covered health care facilities and school districts to verify their employees’ vaccination status and implement mandatory … [Read more...]

Harassment victims no longer can be muzzled by employers under new lawNew law frees harassment victims from employment secrecy clauses Under California's Silenced No More Act, employers in California no longer can force victims of harassment or discrimination to keep quiet about those experiences.As of Jan. 1, the “Silenced No More Act” expands state law to cover all settlement agreements regarding harassment or discrimination, closing a loophole in prior law. The new law (SB 331) … [Read more...]

Under the Silenced No More Act, employers in California no longer can force victims of harassment or discrimination to keep quiet about those experiences.As of Jan. 1, the “Silenced No More Act” expands state law to cover all settlement agreements regarding harassment or discrimination, closing a loophole in prior law. The new law (SB 331) bans confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses about such violations from being folded into severance agreements, building on a 2018 law (SB 1300) … [Read more...]

As California — and the rest of the nation, for that matter — tries to figure out what to do with gig workers, a protracted legal battle has come out in favor of the little guy. At least for the moment. The case pits a former Grubhub driver, Raef Lawson, against the company, pursuing minimum wage, overtime and expense reimbursement claims. But the law, including California’s ABC test for employee status, is far from straightforward.  A tangled web The state has been going back and forth … [Read more...]