By Kate Kriner, PHRca As we eagerly await the changing colors of the leaves and that crispness to the air, we are reminded that the autumnal season of change extends beyond the falling leaves. With the approach of the New Year, California is set to usher in a fresh...
California Supreme Court Clarifies the Single Use of a Racial Slur Can Support a Harassment Claim
By Jennifer Lippi, JD, SPHR, PHRca Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (‘FEHA”), unlawful harassment is “unwanted and unwelcome” conduct based on a protected characteristic. The conduct must be so “severe and pervasive” that it alters the terms and...
Paid Family Leave Grant Program
By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP California’s Paid Family Leave Insurance program (“PFLI”), administered by the California Employment Development Department (“EDD”), is a wage replacement program much like State Disability Insurance (“SDI”). This program...
Supporting Employee Well-Being
By Kate Kriner, PHRca We are all aware of the myriad of daily obstacles our employees face. These obstacles include family members falling ill, children having special needs, and, of course, personal health issues or stress, which can affect their mental well-being...
California Supreme Court Clarifies the Boundaries of “Hours Worked”
By Jennifer Lippi, JD, SPHR, PHRca In March of this year, the Supreme Court of California in Huerta v. CSI Electrical Contractors clarified when an employer’s control over an employee’s activities constitutes ‘hours worked.” The court addressed three main questions...
Los Angeles Further Restricts Background Checking in Employment
By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP In California, employers can no longer ask applicants about their criminal history before a conditional offer of employment is made. We hope this isn’t news to you. Employers in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County with...
Expanded Protections for Pregnant Workers Under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP If you’ve ever had a pregnant employee, you know California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) law has long established robust protections for pregnant employees and pregnancy-related conditions. However, recent developments...
Updated Wage Theft Prevention Act Notice (Notice to Employee)
By Jennifer L. Lippi, JD, SPHR In late 2023, the Governor signed AB 636 which revised the information that must be included in the Labor Code Section 2810.5 “Notice to Employee.” Section 2810.5 requires that employers provide non-exempt employees with written...
Weekly Pay Periods – Best Practice? Maybe Not…..
By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP Are your employees paid bi-weekly (every two weeks), semi-monthly (twice per month), or weekly (52 payrolls per year)? Of all these options, you may be thinking “who would want to run payroll 52 times in a year?” However, we...
