Archive for General Business

Prospective Meal Period Waivers are Enforceable

A new decision from the California Court of Appeals in Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc. confirms that an employee can prospectively waive a future meal period for a shift that does not exceed 6 hours so long as the prospective waiver is in writing, uncoerced, and revocable. Under…

Re-Thinking 1:1 Meetings

Fast Company recently published an article about how advancements in AI are making one-on-one meetings irrelevant.  For decades, the one-on-one meeting has been essential in the world of management serving as a touchpoint meant to build trust, boost engagement, and coach performance.   However, in today’s AI-enhanced and…

California Pay Data Reporting is Due May 14, 2025

Yes, it’s that time of year again! Private employers in California with 100 or more employees, or 100 or more workers hired through staffing agencies, must file their annual pay data report to the California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”) no later than May 14, 2025. This annual report…

NY Governor Signs Amendment to NY’s Retail Worker Safety Act

On February 14, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S740, a new law that amends several provisions of the NY Retail Worker Safety Act by: – Extending the deadline by which covered retail employers (those with at least 10 employees) must provide workplace violence prevention policies, training,…

The Impact of AI on Human Resources

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) has been transforming the field of human resources by automating tasks, enhancing decision-making, and transforming the roles and responsibilities of employees.  In a recent article, Fast Company discusses the 7 major ways that AI will impact the human resources function: AI…

NY Becomes First State to Mandate Paid Leave for Prenatal Care

On January 1, 2025, all private sector employers in New York will be required to offer 20 hours of paid leave every 52 weeks for employees to attend healthcare appointments during or related to their pregnancy.  All employees are eligible for this new benefit, even part-time and recently…

Get Ready — New Employment Laws Coming in 2025

Governor Newsom formally concluded the 2024 legislative session by signing into law several new bills that greatly expand employee rights in California starting on January 1, 2025.  Between now and then, California employers should review their existing policies to ensure compliance with these laws in the new year….

New IRS Ruling Gives Employers and Employees More Benefits Flexibility

A recent IRS private letter ruling will potentially allow employees more flexibility to determine how employer 401K contributions are paid out to them.

California Employers Must Display New Whistleblower Rights Poster

Governor Newsom signed AB 2299 which requires all California employers to prominently display a new whistleblower rights poster in the workplace effective January 1, 2025.

Employee Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs)

This week Fast Company published an article about employee performance improvement plans (PIPs).  A PIP is a structured plan that is developed by the employer for an under-performing employee.  In general, a PIP (a) outlines specific areas where the employee is failing to perform satisfactorily, (b) states concrete…