Category: HR Management & Compliance
There are dozens of details to take care of in the day-to-day operation of your department and your company. We give you case studies, news updates, best practices and training tips that keep your organization fully in compliance with ever-changing employment law, and you fully aware of emerging HR trends.
The California Industrial Welfare Commission has scheduled two important meetings in May that could lead to significant overtime changes this summer. First, the IWC will meet at the state office building in Van Nuys on May 5 to discuss how the new overtime rules impact meal periods, exempt employees’ duties, pharmacists and theski industry. […]
David Balcorta complained that Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in Los Angeles violated the California Labor Code on 11 occasions by not paying him promptly after his discharge from short-term jobs with the studio. Fox contended that it had paid Balcorta according to the terms of its collective bargaining agreement. But the Ninth Circuit Court […]
A federal court in California has thrown out a lawsuit we mentioned in the August 1999 issue of California Employer Advisor, which was filed by long-term temps contending that, even though they were paid by employee-leasing agencies, they should be considered regular Atlantic Richfield Co. employees entitled to receive benefits. The temps sought retirement benefits, […]
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that an agricultural employer has to compensate farm workers for their travel time to and from work. The workers were required to report to a company parking lot each morning to take their employer’s buses to their worksite. The court noted that employers may provide free transportation to employees without […]
Most public and private employers know it’s illegal to take action against employees because of their political activities. But a recent case highlights an important exception to this rule for public employees who qualify as “policymakers.” A terminated deputy sued a newly elected sheriff, alleging she was forced out of her job because she had […]
The federal government pulled in a record $49.9 million last year for employees who filed complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an increase of $34 million over the last six years, according to recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission statistics. Topping the list were HIV-related claims of $10.5 million, followed by orthopedic and back injuries […]
A California Court of Appeal has ruled that Beverly Hospital in Montebello didn’t violate the state family leave law by terminating a physical therapist who missed work to help her seriously ill mother move to a new apartment. Marjorie Pang claimed her time off was protected because she was providing psychological care for a […]
Most employers wouldn’t think that replacing a terminated worker over age 40 with someone who is much older would run afoul of the age discrimination laws. But a new case shows that even a seemingly uncomplicated termination like this can be seen as part of a pattern of age bias when examined under a magnifying […]
The rules on when you can legally dock exempt employees’ pay are complex, and it’s easy to make mistakes. For example, if you dock when you shouldn’t, the person could be considered an hourly worker entitled to back overtime. However, under a special federal provision known as the “window of correction” rule, you may be […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) has just released its new enforcement strategy to ensure that pension plans comply with ERISA. The main target: defined contribution programs, particularly 401(k) plans. This means you could be hit with hefty penalties for pension plan administration errors, such as delinquent employee contributions and […]