Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
Under strict new rules adopted last year by the state Industrial Welfare Commission, you may be liable for a penalty of an additional hour’s pay for each day that you fail to provide a nonexempt employee with a required meal break, unless they’ve consented in writing to an on-duty meal period. Now three former employees […]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has stepped in to file a lawsuit accusing Catholic Charities of firing an African-American case manager after he complained about racially offensive treatment. Keith Bogard claimed that because of his race he was given undesirable assignments at a Catholic Charities group home in San Francisco. He also charged that staff […]
A recent development serves as an alert for all employers contemplating a large-scale lay-off without prior notice. The Connecticut Attorney General is suing Walker Digital, owned by Priceline founder Jay Walker, charging that the company violated the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) when it let 106 workers go without adequate notice in November. […]
When you offer employee perks, it’s critical to make clear whether the program is a vested benefit or a company bonus that is subject to change or cancellation. Former Hewlett-Packard engineer Mark G. Leonard is suing the high-tech giant, claiming that it cancelled a program to provide thousands of retirees lifetime rebates on its products, […]
An Alameda County Superior Court judge has certified a class action lawsuit on behalf of as many as 10,000 women who claim they were passed over for promotions and paid less than male colleagues at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. An attorney representing the scientists estimated that the employer may face damages of more than $250 […]
Employers often worry about getting hit with age-bias lawsuits when there’s a reorganization and older workers who don’t fit into the new company structure are let go. A recent case highlights some important issues to pay attention to during layoffs to help avoid age-related claims. Older Worker Loses Job In Reorganization Jerry Jeney was a […]
Maria D. (as she was referred to in court documents) claimed that late one night as she drove along the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California, she was pulled over by an on-duty Westec Residential Security guard wearing a uniform and gun. The guard allegedly pointed a spotlight in her face, asked for her license, […]
Under changes to the state disability discrimination law that took effect January 1, you can be sued for failing to cooperate with a disabled employee to determine whether they need a reasonable accommodation and to explore available options. A new California Court of Appeal decision provides more detail on how you and the disabled employee […]
When the California Supreme Court approved mandatory arbitration for employment disputes last year, one question left unanswered was how existing arbitration agreements that don’t meet all the standards the court set forth would be handled. The contrasting approaches taken in two recent Court of Appeal decisions provide some guidance as to how the line will […]
On their last day of work, the unionized employees of bankrupt Aero Stretch Inc., a Gardena aerospace manufacturer, were told they could apply for positions the next day with the new company taking over, Advance Stretchforming International Inc. (ASI). The employees were also informed that there would be no union at ASI. Now the federal […]