California Governor Jerry Brown announced that a deal had been reached with the California legislature to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. This would give California the highest state-wide minimum wage in the country. Under the new law, the state minimum wage…
California has once again been ranked the #1 “Judicial Hellhole” in America by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). This is the third time in four years that California has claimed the title. The exception was last year, when New York stole the top ranking due to “monumentally…
On October 2, 2015, Governor Brown signed AB 1506 which amends California’s Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”) to allow employers the cure certain pay stub violations which otherwise could have triggered PAGA liability. Under existing California law, an employer must present each employee with an itemized pay stub…
Recently, the California Legislature passed AB 465 which prevents employers from requiring employees to sign mandatory pre-employment arbitration agreements as a condition of employment. This bill, which is now sitting on Governor Brown’s desk awaiting his signature, adds a new provision of the California Labor Code making it…
On July 16, 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 987 into law. This new law makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to retaliate or otherwise discriminate against an employee for requesting an accommodation for a disability or religious belief, regardless of whether or not the request…
On July 15, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 202. This new law requires California-based minor or major league baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, or soccer to treat cheerleaders as employees, not independent contractors, when they perform during exhibitions or games. This means that California cheerleaders are…
As many of you already know, California has a new paid sick leave that took effect on July 1st of this year. I previously blogged about this new law, and its requirements for California employers, here. But the state’s new sick leave law left many questions unanswered. So,…
On September 30, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 2617. This new law prohibits mandatory, pre-dispute arbitration agreements in contracts for goods and services, to the extent the agreement purports to waive rights provided by California Civil Code 51.7 (the “Ralph Civil Rights Act”) and/or 52.1 (the…
On September 30, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 802. Under this new law, which takes effect on January 1, 2015, private arbitration companies (e.g., AAA, JAMS) will be required to collect and publish certain information about private arbitrations they administer. The previously private information which must…
Earlier today, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1522 guaranteeing paid sick leave to most California employees. The new law, which is entitled the “Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014,” goes into effect on July 1, 2015 and covers all employers in California. Here’s a quick summary of…