A new bill being considered by California lawmakers will bring California consumers additional privacy rights by requiring companies to disclose to consumers the data they've collected and with whom it was shared during the past year, if the consumer requests it. The bill, known as the "Right to Know Act of 2013," AB 1291 would require companies to provide a free report in response to a customer's request and respond within 30 days. The law defines "customer" as an individual who is a resident … [Read more...]
Can a Job Applicant Refuse to Sign an Arbitration Clause But Still Be Hired?
Forced arbitration agreements put job applicants in a no win situation. If they don't agree, they probably won't get hired and possibly be unable to financially support themselves and their families. If they do agree, are hired but management breaks the law, filing a lawsuit to protect their rights isn't an option. Instead, they're forced into an arbitration hearing where the process may be stacked against them. A bill that passed the California Assembly in May would change this … [Read more...]
CDC Program Charged With Discrimination Against Obese Workers
Could the federal government be behind a movement of obesity discrimination in the workplace? Some are asserting that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) LEAN Works! program is boosting anti-fat sentiment at work by tying the costs of overweight employees to their bottom line. LEAN Works! provided employers with an obesity cost calculator, which allowed them to draw a parallel between the cost associated with the overweight employees and their financial losses. The CDC stated … [Read more...]
CFPB Launches Study Into Mandatory Arbitration, Bringing Discussion To Congress
The growing use of mandatory arbitration has become a hot topic among businesses and consumers, which has led the debate all the way to Congress, with billions of dollars potentially at stake. Like many issues brought to Congress, a government agency has been given the task to study arbitration, causing both financial institutions and consumer groups to lobby to influence the study's design, reports the American Banker.The study is expected to widely influence implementation of the Dodd-Frank … [Read more...]
Calif. Weighs Tougher Heat Rules for Farmworkers
With temperatures soaring to triple digits in some areas, precautions to help prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses should be mandatory. Farm workers are entitled to simple protections that could save their lives. There should never be a choice between their lives or supporting their families working in the extreme heat at the risk of their health. With temperatures in the Central Valley recently surpassing 110 degrees and state regulators investigating two possible heat-related deaths in … [Read more...]