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In A Win for Public Employers, CA Supreme Court Rules PAGA Penalties, Other California Wage & Hour Laws, Do Not Apply

In August 2024, the California Supreme Court decided Stone v. Alameda Health System, which clarified that the meal and rest break requirements of the California Labor Code at sections 226.7 and 512 and other Labor Code provisions do not apply to public employers. The Court also held that the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) penalty […]

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Ask the Expert: Can Employees Be Held Legally Accountable for Paying Overpaid Wages Back?

Question: Is there a statute of limitations regarding when employers must inform employees of an overpayment of wages, and can employees be held legally accountable for paying the overpayment back? Answer: The Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) doesn’t address how long an employer has to recover overpaid wages. In the absence of federal law, state […]

Workplace Mental Health Concerns on the Rise

Mental health concerns in the workplace continue to plague businesses of all kinds. Recent research indicates that 83% of U.S. workers suffer from some form of work-related stress; 25% say that their job is the top stressor in their lives. That stress can lead to absenteeism and relationship impacts. For instance: The top causes of […]

Faces of HR: Sibyl McCarley’s Journey from Temp to C-Suite

Sibyl McCarley, Chief People Officer (CPO) at HireVue, is a seasoned HR leader with a unique career journey. Her path to the C-suite began unexpectedly when she graduated with degrees in English, Psychology, and History. Initially planning to pursue a law degree, McCarley took a detour to gain work experience and earn a master’s degree. […]

Evaluating Family-Friendly Benefits for Working Parents

When reviewing benefits for a new role or an updated benefits package, the first thing working parents think about is “how will this support my family and foster my success at work?” Benefits can make a significant impact on employee performance, success, and work-life balance, creating improved outcomes for the business overall.  The corporate world […]

Employers Beware: The Tip Credit Is Back

Hospitality employers take note: The Department of Labor’s (DOL) tip rule has been struck down. The tip credit is a provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that allows employers to pay tipped employees a lower direct wage as long as their tips make up the difference to reach the minimum wage. However, the tip […]

The Rise of Fractional HR: A Flexible Solution for Modern Business

It’s a fast-paced business environment out there. Companies of all sizes are seeking ways to remain agile, reduce costs, and still maintain high levels of efficiency. One emerging solution is fractional HR, a flexible approach to human resources management that allows businesses to access expert HR services on a part-time basis. This innovative model provides […]

Bridging the Divide: Mastering the Art of Conversation Across Political Lines

During an election season, broaching the topic of politics feels like handling a live grenade, no matter how casually the topic arises in conversation. Client dinners, business meetings, and family holidays are all high-risk situations, where political shrapnel has the potential to implode your important relationships. Considering this, it’s common for leaders (and everyone in […]

Keeping Salaries Secret—A Losing Game

Employees have long been exhorted not to share their salaries with others. Of course, those exhortations have notoriously not worked, as a recent survey demonstrates. What the Survey Tells Us A survey of 1182 employed Americans conducted by Self Financial revealed some interesting insights into what they do, and don’t share about their salaries—and how […]

Corporate Transparency Act: Know If It Applies to Your Business

A new federal law that went into effect in January will likely affect many businesses in Wisconsin and across the country—in particular, many small businesses that may not even be aware of the new law. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted on January 1, 2021, as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 […]