Employment News

The coronavirus pandemic has created a quagmire of tough decisions for today’s workers, including when to report unsafe working conditions, and the landscape is about to shift again. Now, as states tentatively reopen their economies — California’s phased plan began May 8 (some localities were later) — both employers and employees have to figure out this new normal on the fly. But in the midst of the uncertainty, we can’t let companies take advantage of latitude they may be … [Read more...]

As the novel coronavirus pushes governments and businesses to extraordinary protection measures, seemingly overnight, a new victim may be emerging: privacy.  Such a concern may seem superfluous amid a pandemic that has claimed tens of thousands of U.S. lives, sickened more than half a million, and turned a booming economy on its head. But ignoring reasonable limits — and the potential ramifications — could sacrifice privacy rights in a way some say poses many risks. Smartphones, health … [Read more...]

Law-breaking employers paid more than $88 million in penalties last year in PAGA lawsuits under a progressive California law that guards workplace rights, a new report finds. That’s up dramatically from $30.3 million in 2018. The Private Attorneys General Act lets workers sue on behalf of the State of California to recover civil penalties on behalf of the State and affected workers for labor violations. This legal option is available regardless of whether an employee has signed a forced … [Read more...]

Coronavirus has dramatically interrupted U.S. life, bringing normal routines for many almost to a standstill.  The number of confirmed domestic cases of coronavirus COVID-19 has soared in recent days, with California facing the third-most cases among states, according to tracking by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Given this stark reality, workers face tough choices about COVID sick leave in California and much else. Here’s a rundown of what your … [Read more...]

While it remains uncertain how the AB5 California law (Assembly Bill 5) will influence employer-employee relationships long-term, we now have insight to the immediate impact on the California workforce. Since going into effect on January 1, the law has been the subject of national scrutiny and met with a number of lawsuits from industries including trucking, media, and technology.  Aimed to prevent worker misclassification, the law codifies the landmark California Supreme Court Dynamex … [Read more...]