As you know from previous posts in this blog, the choice of entity is a big question for most startups. Whether to form an C Corp, S Corp, LLC, partnership, or something else is one of the earliest — and most important — decisions an entrepreneur confronts. There are pros and cons to each different… Read More
Posts Categorized In: General Business
San Jose’s New Minimum Wage Ordinance Goes Into Effect
On March 11, 2013, San Jose’s Minimum Wage Ordinance went into effect. That law, which was passed by voters in the November 2012 election, requires employers to pay their employees a minimum wage of $10.00 per hour for work performed within the city limits and requires the minimum wage to increase annually by the cost… Read More
DHS Announces Release of New I-9 Form
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently issued a new federal I-9 form. This is the form that all employers must use in order to verify a new employee’s eligibility to work in the United States. Employers can continue to use the old I-9 form only until May 7, 2013. After that date, the new… Read More
New Bill, AB 10, Seeks Increase in State’s Minimum Wage
On Monday December 3, 2012 — the first day of the next legislative session — Assembly member Luis Alejo (D-Salinas) introduced a new bill (AB 10) that would significantly raise the state’s minimum wage to $8.25 beginning in 2014. The bill proposes additional increases in 2015 (to $8.75) and 2016 (to $9.25). In addition, beginning in… Read More
CA Employees Get Time Off to Vote
With the election here, California employers are reminded that California law provides employees with up to 2 hours paid time off to vote if an employee provides 2 working days’ notice of the need for time off tp to vote. To qualify, the employee must state only that he or she does not have sufficient time… Read More
Court Rules that Rounding of Employee Time is Permissible
Yesterday, the California Court of Appeal issued an unprecedented ruling in See’s Candy Shops, Inc. v. Superior Court. The Court ruled that it was permissible under California law for employers to round employee time when calculating actual hours worked. It is the first published California appellate case to address rounding, which has long been a… Read More
CA Supreme Court Grants Review in Paratransit, Inc. v. Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
Back in June 2012, I wrote a blog post about the Court of Appeal’s decision in Paratransit, Inc. v. Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, 206 Cal. App. 4th 1312 (2012). In Paratransit, the California Court of Appeal held that an employee’s refusal to sign a performance review or disciplinary action form constituted “misconduct” justifying the denial… Read More
The Executive Compensation Debate: New Study Debunks Old Assumptions
The financial meltdown that began in 2008 caused a lot of finger-pointing: who was to blame and why? Although the list of potential culprits is long and varied — from bank deregulation, to the increased use of credit default swaps and other hyper-complex financing structures, to a “play today, pay tomorrow” mentality that allowed average… Read More
Partnership, Corporation, or LLC — Which is Best?
One of the most common questions I get asked by entrepreneurs is, “How should we structure our new venture?” Although it sounds like a simple question, there is no one-size-fits-all simple answer. The three most common business structures — partnership, LLC, and corporation — all come with different costs/benefits and risks/rewards. What is the… Read More
Selling a Business — Issues to Consider and Things to Do
Inc. magazine recently ran a series of articles discussing some of the major issues involved in the sale of a business. The series gave a basic overview and also provided some practical strategies and checklists that can be used throughout the sale and closing process. You might find this series interesting if you are thinking about… Read More
