Cal/OSHA Revises the Definition of “Serious Injury and Illness” for Reporting Requirements
By Jonathan S. Vick
October 28, 2019
Cal/OSHA recently adopted a major change in its definition of a “serious injury or illness” as it relates to an employer’s duty in California to report injuries and illnesses to Cal/OSHA. AB1805 goes into effect January 1, 2020.
Employer Obligations in the Event of Closures Due to California Wildfires and Power Outages
By David Kang, Jonathan Judge, Scott K. Dauscher
October 15, 2019
Natural disasters are something that many don’t think about until it’s too late, particularly in the context of their business obligations. But as extreme winds, wildfires, and power outages continue to pick up in California, employers should consider what obligations exist as to their employees and employment law.
Governor Signs “Landmark Legislation” Redefining Independent Contractors
By Scott & Whitehead
September 23, 2019
Governor Newsom redefined Independent Contractors last week. Effective January 1, 2020, AB5 codifies the California Supreme Court decision in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court, which narrowed the definition of independent contractor to three essential criteria. This “ABC test” places the burden on employers to establish that the worker is properly classified as an independent contractor.
Expanded California Sexual Harassment Training Requirements Delayed to 2021
By Tyler Woods
September 8, 2019
At the height of the #MeToo movement, California lawmakers enacted a requirement that all employers with five or more employees would need to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees by January 1, 2020. However, in response to outcry from the business community, Governor Newsom signed into effect a law this past Friday extending the deadline for employers to provide the newly required sexual harassment prevention training to January 1, 2021. What do California employers need to know about this one-year reprieve?
Breaking the ICE: How Employers Can push back against punitive I-9 fines
By Ralph Hua, Lauren Sobaski
August 7, 2019
Climate change may make our summers hotter, but the Iceman still cometh. Since late 2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly increased the number of Notices of Inspections issued to employers nationwide. This spike in I-9 audits has also resulted in an increase in assessed civil penalties and punitive fines to employers with non-compliant I-9s.
New Calsavers Law Took effect on July 1, 2019
By Sherrie Boutwell
July 22, 2019
The California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Trust Act (“CalSavers”) took effect on July 1, 2019. Large employers that have at least one eligible California based employee and who do not offer their own employer sponsored retirement plan must register with the CalSavers program and begin auto-enrolling employees in the CalSavers plan no later than June 30, 2020. By 2022, even employers with as few as five California based employees (at least one of whom meets the eligibility requirement – age 18) will be subject to the mandate. The statute applies to both for-profit and non-profit employers, but not to government agencies.
The following deadlines to either claim an exemption or to register with the CalSavers program apply:
100+ employees: June 30, 2020
50+ employees: June 30, 2021
5+ employees: June 30, 2022
California Legislation Codifying ABC Test Passes State Assembly
By Amber S. Healy, April Szabo, Jonathan Judge
June 11, 2019
On May 29, Assembly Bill (AB) 5 passed the California State Assembly, moving Californians one step closer to full implementation of a new test for independent contractor classification. AB5, which was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego, seeks to codify the California Supreme Court’s April 2018 Dynamex decision, which established the “ABC test” to determine classification of workers as employees or independent contractors.
An Employer’s 7-Step guide to navigating newly revived no-match letters
By Davis C. Bae, Shanon R. Stevenson, Jeffrey D. Winchester
May 20, 2019
The Social Security Administration recently resurrected its practice of issuing Employer Correction Request notices – also known as “no-match letters” – when it receives employee information from an employer that does not match its records. If you find yourself in receipt of such a letter, we recommend you take the following seven steps in conjunction with working with your H.R. counsel.
Supreme Court Limits Availability of Class Arbitration
By Ronald W. Novotny
April 30, 2019
On April 24, 2019, the United States Supreme Court issued a death-knell to attempts to force employers into class arbitration by use of ambiguous language that does not explicitly authorize arbitration of employee claims on a class-wide basis. In Lamps Plus Inc. v. Varela (2019) –– S.Ct. ––––, the Court held that consent to arbitrate a legal claim as a class proceeding may not be inferred from ambiguous language in an arbitration agreement, and that a contract interpretation rule requiring that agreements be construed “against the drafter” cannot substitute for the requisite “affirmative contractual basis” for concluding that the parties agreed to class arbitration.
The Hidden cost of an osha citation
By Jonathan S. Vick
April 1, 2019
Most employers are familiar with CAL/OSHA Citations and Penalties. Cal/OSHA has been increasing the penalty amounts over the past few years. The following is a summary of some of the most common penalty amounts:
- Regulatory violations: New penalty is $13,047 maximum per violation.
- General violations: New penalty is $13,047 maximum per violation.
- Serious violations: New penalty is $25,000 maximum per violation.
- Willful & Repeat violations: New penalty is $130,464 per violation.
The amount of the maximum penalties has increased substantionally over the past few years but the cost of a violation can include far more than the penalty issued by Cal/OSHA. A Cal/OSHA citation can also increase the employer’s exposure for workers compensation claims.
Ninth Circuit Restricts The Use of Combined Federal and State Background check Disclosures
By Casandra P. Secord, Jonathan Judge, April Szabo – Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
February 13, 2019
The FCRA and ICRAA require employers to provide “clear and conspicuous” disclosures to applicants or employees before a background check can be conducted. The disclosures must contain specific information required under these statutes, and applicants and employees must consent to the background check. Employers must follow specific procedures to deny employment or take other types of adverse employment action based on information contained in a background check report
Travel Time in a Company Vehicle is Not Compensable Unless Mandatory
By David Kang, Amber S. Healy, Jonathan Judge – Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
December 4, 2018
On November 15, 2018, the California Court of Appeal clarified that an employer’s provision of a company vehicle for their employees’ use would not convert commute times into “hours worked.” (Hernandez v. Pacific Bell Telephone Company (11/15/18, C084350)). This holding confirms long standing law that an employee’s voluntary use of company transportation cannot be wielded as a knife against his or her employer.
Reminders for Hiring Seasonal Employees
By: John Monroe, Kristina Griffin – Ford Harrison
October 25, 2018
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Holiday season hiring started as early as June this year. If your company is one of the many that substantially increases its workforce for the holidays, keeping the following practices in mind throughout the season can help to ensure smooth operations and avoid any unnecessary risks.
California Supreme Court Says Minutes Matter
Numerous federal rulings have upheld the “de minimis” rule for duties lasting less than ten minutes. Noting that nothing in the reading of the California Wage Orders shows an intent to provide for the de minimis exception, the Supreme Court held that California has not adopted this federal doctrine. Rather, the Wage Orders require that wages must be paid to an employee for “all hours worked” and all work performed. While the Supreme Court acknowledged that the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement Manual, as well as opinion letters issued by that Division, recognize the de minimis exception, those authorities are advisory only, and do not have the binding authority of the Wage Orders.
Ninth Circuit Court Confirms Employer Duties Regarding Meal Periods
On July 18, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that Taco Bell had violated California’s meal period and overtime requirements by requiring employees who purchased discounted meals to stay on the premises during their meal period. The Court held that Taco Bell did not violate California law and affirmed an order granting summary judgment in favor of Taco Bell in a proposed class action suit titled Rodriquez v. Taco Bell Corp. (9th Cir. Case No. 16-15465).
In yet another nod to the #MeToo Movement, Governor Brown signed AB 2770 on July 9, 2018 to protect sexual harassment victims and employers from being sued for libel, slander, or defamation by alleged harassers. The bill passed the legislature with unanimous, bipartisan support and expanded the definition of “privileged publication or broadcast,” as defined in Civil Code Section 47(c). The definition now includes the following as privileged communications: (1) a complaint of sexual harassment by an employee, without malice, to an employer based on credible evidence and (2) communications between the employer and interested persons regarding a complaint of sexual harassment. AB 2770 also authorizes an employer to answer, without malice, whether the employer would rehire an employee and whether a decision not to rehire is based on the employer’s determination that the former employee engaged in sexual harassment.