Assembly Bill 685 (“AB 685”), signed by the Governor on September 17, 2020, and effective on January 1, 2021, amends several provisions of California’s Health and Safety and Labor Codes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including exhaustive notice requirements...
A Slew of New Employment Laws May Be on the Horizon for California Employers
By: Robin E. Largent Partner, Carothers DiSante Freudenberger LLP Although the pandemic has caused the shutdown of many businesses and has significantly curtailed life as we know it, it has not stopped the California legislature. The legislature is considering a...
More Cities Pass COVID-19 Ordinances for Employers
Kim Silvers, SPHR, PHRca If you have employees in Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, or San Mateo County, you’ll want to be familiar with the additional COVID-19 related ordinances these city/county governments have gifted their employers with this month. Since...
A Few Other Matters Creeping into These Unprecedented Times
by Kim Silvers, SPHR, PHRca How many ways can we say “unprecedented” without repeating this dreadfully overused term? We’ve sent out weekly COVID-19 updates since the first week in March. I’m over it. How about you? Oh, but wait – the waves of the “Return from...
As the Pandemic Subsides, Working from Home Is Here to Stay: Best Practices for Employers as They Prepare for Long-Term Teleworking
By Jennifer Duggan and Susanna Matingou In this uncertain era of COVID-19, at least one thing is sure: teleworking is not going anywhere. Our collective initial foray into mass teleworking was abrupt, mandatory, and perhaps best described as trial by fire. However,...
Are Parent-Teacher Conferences FMLA eligible?
By Laurie Nooren, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-CP The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) states that eligible employees* are allowed time off from work to care for a child with a “serious health condition,” which includes both physical and psychological care as well as making...
A W-4 Makeover for 2020. Free of Charge…
By Stacey Sommerhauser, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gave the W-4 a makeover for 2020. This is the first major redesign of the form since 1987. The 2020 W-4 will look very different from previous versions to you and your employees, as...
Good News (for now) California Court of Appeal Clarifies Meal and Rest Period Premium Pay Calculation
By Jennifer L. Lippi, SPHR, PHRca On October 9, 2019, the California Court of Appeal in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, issued a decision clarifying the rate of pay at which an employer must pay meal and rest period premiums. As you likely know, if an employee...
California Wildfires… the season is coming
By Stacey Sommerhauser, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP If you’ve lived in California for any length of time you know we are about to start California’s wildfire season. The fire season in California has been starting earlier and ending later each year. As I write this...
