Employment News

The new year will bring higher minimum wages for California workers — as well as the potential for computer software engineers and health care workers to earn more. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, the California minimum wage will increase from $15.50 an hour to $16 an hour. (Some cities and counties already have higher minimum wages than that; UC Berkeley maintains a chart.) For comparison, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, but many states set their standards above that mark. Also, some … [Read more...]

A recent court settlement offers a hopeful view of government remedies for underpaid workers — and should serve as a warning to companies that turn a blind eye to fraud. The particular case involved public construction projects in Massachusetts, but California has similar laws — and a much bigger budget for these projects, thus more opportunities for violations by contractors — so the situation is a helpful example. The particular points at issue: Construction contractors paying workers … [Read more...]

Electric car trailblazer Tesla has found itself in the spotlight, but not for its vehicles — rather, a federal workplace watchdog alleges that Tesla tolerated pervasive mistreatment of Black employees and retaliated against those who complained. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently filed a lawsuit against the automaker, saying that mistreatment of Black employees at Tesla’s Fremont, California manufacturing facilities had persisted at least since 2015. The employees faced … [Read more...]

The latest job figures reflect a still-strong labor market, with the U.S. economy adding a higher-than-expected 187,000 jobs in August. Amidst a controlled cooling in the bid to fight inflation, unemployment remains low and job seekers still hold a strong position. Many workers have been using current conditions to aim for better positions. But some employers have been cutting corners in the cutthroat race for workers. At Keller Grover, we advocate for workers; be on guard for these five … [Read more...]

California’s largest wildfire of the year has been burning through the California desert, threatening habitats, to be sure, but also adding to a growing health risk for people working outdoors in smoke-tainted air. As of July 31, California had reported 3,880 wildfires that burned nearly 96,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE. A recent report published in the peer-reviewed Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences attributed the surge of wildfires in recent decades almost entirely to … [Read more...]