On September 11, 2023, the coalition of California businesses announced its agreement with labor unions to withdraw their referendum challenging Assembly Bill (AB) 257, which created the FAST Recovery Act, from next year’s ballot.
Last year, Governor Newsom signed AB 257. The Act established a Fast Food Council comprising fast food employees, worker advocates,…
On September 1, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 699, which buttresses current state law that voids contracts that restrain an employee from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind.
California’s Business and Professions Code section 16600 states, “[E]very contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in…
As school resumes and temperatures fall, employees may be calling out sick. Here is a refresher on the basics of California’s paid sick leave law known as the Healthy Workplace Healthy Families Act, Labor Code 245 et seq.
Covered Employers
The state’s paid sick leave requirement applies to all employers and includes public employees.
Covered…
Under the Labor Code, each year the State of California must determine and certify whether an adjustment for inflation is applied to the state’s minimum wage. In 2022, when the rate of inflation exceeded 7 percent, the state minimum wage was increased to $15.50. This year, California has decided that the minimum wage increase…
On July 24, 2023, the California Office of Administrative Law approved the California Civil Rights Council’s modifications to regulations pertaining to California’s Fair Chance Act. Under the Fair Chance Act, employers with five or more employees are prohibited from asking an applicant about conviction history before making a job offer and setting forth other…
While students are enjoying the dog days of summer, California employers may want to review leaves available to parents and caregivers before the school year begins.
Just as there are considerations when employing minors, there are also leave entitlements employers should be aware of when employing parents and caregivers.
Under the Labor Code, “Parent”…
On July 20, 2023, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board approved promulgating an Emergency Temporary Standard for Respirable Crystalline Silica (Silica). The Silica ETS will require the fabricated stone industry to protect its employees from silica exposure. According to Cal/OSHA, engineered stone, which is cut to create countertops in home construction, is much cheaper than natural alternatives,…
On July 1, 2023, the City of Los Angeles Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance went into effect. The ordinance sets forth certain requirements for hiring entities retaining freelance workers operating within the City of Los Angeles.
Definition of Freelance Worker
Under the ordinance, a freelance worker is defined as an individual or entity composed of no…
The California Supreme Court in Kuciemba v. Victory Woodworks, Inc was asked to rule on two questions by the 9th Circuit:
…
On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 102 which will amend the Budget Act of 2023. The bill will take effect immediately as a Budget Bill.
While appropriations bills such as AB 102 are generally not of much interest to private employers, AB 102 is noteworthy because it includes a $3,000,000 appropriation…
