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Sexual Orientation: New Law Expands Protections
Governor Schwarzenegger recently signed S.B. 1441, which expands discrimination protections for individuals in programs or activities conducted, operated, or administered by the state or state agency, or that’s funded directly by the state, or receives any financial assistance from the state. This includes programs such as workers’ compensation and unemployment and disability insurance. Join us […]
Supreme Court Okays Rehearing of Liberty U.’s Challenge to Reform Law
The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a federal appeals court to rehear a Christian university’s challenge to the health reform law in Liberty University v. Geithner. Reviving the case creates the possibility that the High Court may rule on the case itself sometime in 2013, which would make it the second challenge to health reform […]
Bulletin Item: California Supreme Court Says Catholic Group Must Offer Contraception Coverage In Employee Health Plan
The California Supreme Court has ruled that a Catholic charity doesn’t qualify as a “religious employer” and therefore must comply with the Women’s Contraception Equity Act (WCEA) by offering prescription contraception coverage in its employee health plan if it offers prescription drug coverage—even if the organization opposes contraceptives on religious grounds. This ruling could impact […]
Wage and Hour: California’s Minimum Wage Going Up to $8.00
On Monday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California legislators agreed to elevate the state’s minimum wage to $8.00 per hour from the current $6.75 per hour. The increase will take effect in two stages: minimum wage earners will get a 75 cent/hour boost on Jan. 1, 2007, to $7.50, and then another 50 cent/hour raise on […]
Mortgage Firm Pays Almost $2 Million in Back Wages
New Sick Leave Legislation: Review Your Policies Now
A law enacted several years ago permits employees to use up to one-half of their accrued sick leave to attend to the illness of a child, parent, spouse or domestic partner. Now new legislation, S.B. 1471, signed by Gov. Davis, makes it illegal for an absence control policy to count sick leave taken under […]
Wage and Hour: IT Company Pays Millions for H1-B Wage Violations
Patni Computer Systems, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts has agreed to shell out over $2.4 million to settle allegations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division that Patni underpaid computer professionals employed under the H-1B visa program. The settlement proceeds will be shared by 607 workers employed between January 2004 and December […]
Bulletin Item: Violations of Labor Laws Will Soon Mean Greater Penalties
Gov. Davis recently signed AB 276, which doubles the penalties for certain labor law violations, including the failure to pay wages.
News Notes: Holiday Wage-and-Hour Mistakes Prove Costly For Retailer
If you’re considering hiring minors to help out during the holiday season, be sure to double-check the rules. Toys ‘R’ Us has just agreed to pay $200,000 to settle Labor Department allegations that the toy retailer violated federal rules covering the employment of minors. The government charged that 14- and 15-year-olds were hired to work […]