As predicted, on February 17, 2014 San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee signed the San Francisco Supervisors’ “Ban the Box” ordinance. This means that employers, contractors, and affordable housing providers will have very limited use of criminal background checks in vetting employees or tenants in San Francisco. This new law goes into effect on March 19,… Read More
HR & Employment Law Blog
SF Board of Supervisors Unanimously Passes “Ban the Box” Ordinance
On February 11, 2014, the SF Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a new ordinance barring most employers and housing providers from (1) asking applicants to disclose their criminal background in the application process, and (2) using criminal background history or records in the employment or housing selection process. This so-called “Ban the Box” law is… Read More
Deadline — Cal/OSHA Form 300 Due Today
The California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) requires most employers with 11 or more employees to post by February 1st a summary of job-related illnesses and injuries that occurred in the prior year. The posting, which is often referred to as Form 300A or the Cal/OSHA Log 300 summary, must be posted wherever employee notices are… Read More
MoneyTree Reports VC Investment Up 7% — Internet Investments Highest Since 2001
According to the MoneyTree report by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) and the National Venture Capital Association (“NVCA”), venture capitalists invested $29.4 billion in 3,995 deals in 2013. This represents a 7% in dollars invested and a 4% increase in deals compared to 2012. Internet-specific companies captured $7.1 billion in investments in 2013, according to the report. This… Read More
NLRB Gives Up — No More Notice Posting Rule
According to its Office of Public Affairs, the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) has decided not to seek Supreme Court review of two U.S. Court of Appeals decisions invalidating the NLRB’s Notice Posting Rule, which would have required most private sector employers to post a notice of employee rights in the workplace. This decision by the… Read More
AB 370 Requires New Privacy Disclosures on Commercial Websites
A recent amendment to California’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003, which already requires owners and operators of commercial websites to post conspicuous privacy policies, now requires even more — As a result of AB 370, which took effect on January 1, 2014, owners and operators of commercial websites that collect “personally identifiable information” about… Read More
New IRS Mileage Rates for 2014
Beginning January 1, 2014, the new standard IRS mileage rates are: $0.56/mile for business miles driven; $0.235/mile for medical or moving purposes; and $0.14/mile for service to charitable organizations. Employers that use the standard IRS rates for employee reimbursement purposes should review and adjust their expense reimbursement policies to be consistent with these new guidelines…. Read More
California Named #1 “Judicial Hellhole” in America
That’s a headline full of holiday cheer, isn’t it? For the second year in a row, California has been ranked the #1 “Judicial Hellhole” in America by the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA). This is the 2nd year in a row that California has claimed the title. And for what do we owe this dubious… Read More
SF Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance — Poster Available
The SF Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance (FFWO) poster is now available. You can find it here. Employers with 20 or more employees are subject to this new and should ensure that this posting is placed in a prominent location at the worksite prior to the law’s effective date (January 1, 2014). The FFWO was passed… Read More
Ninth Circuit Approves $697,972 in Attorneys’ Fees on Jury Award of $27,280
In Muniz v. United Parcel Services, Inc., the Ninth Circuit ruled that the district court did not abuse its discretion in awarding the prevailing plaintiff $697,972 in attorneys’ fees where the jury awarded her only $27,280 in damages on a single FEHA claim. UPS brought the appeal and claimed that the lower court abused its… Read More