Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
The California Supreme Court has granted review of the recent Brinker Restaurant Corp. decision. In that case, a California appeals court ruled, among other things, that an employer’s obligation to “provide” meal and rest breaks means that the employer must make the break available and not impede, discourage, or dissuade employees from taking it. Employers, […]
As if employers don’t already have enough to deal with these days—thanks in large part to a faltering economy—some new developments, including big financial incentives or employees to blow the whistle and a new whistleblower protection law, should cause many to watch their backs.
If anyone questions your layoff selections—and they will—employees’ attorneys are going to scrutinize the job descriptions on which you based your determinations. What will they find? A full set of up-to-date, accurate, and complete job descriptions, right? Well, maybe not a full set—and maybe not all accurate and complete and up to date, either. Here […]
Breaking News: President Bush Signs ADA Amendments Act Yesterday, President Bush signed the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. For more details on the new law, click here. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2009. Get ready to comply–attend our audio conference on the new law on Oct. 8.
Summer is over, and the kids are back at school—and so are their parents. As you well know, some of your employees will undoubtedly be traveling to their children’s schools at various times throughout the school year for meetings and activities. Do you know the rules regarding when parents can take work leave to participate […]
Most California employers know by now that a California appeals court recently issued an important decision in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court, interpreting the state’s meal and rest period requirements and giving employers and employees welcome flexibility in scheduling breaks. (See our complete coverage here.)
Since the workers’ compensation reforms of 2003, most California employers have seen a steady and welcome decline in their workers’ comp insurance premiums. But rates may be headed in the other direction starting in 2009.
Our subscribers often ask us if they can split up an employee’s meal break. For example, if an employee has a meeting or training session that interferes with the 30-minute lunch break, can you as an employer have the person take 15 minutes after five hours worked, and then take the other 15 minutes later […]
Aug. 31 was the last day for California legislators to pass bills, and the governor has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto them. But the current budget standoff in the legislature could mean that few, if any, bills will become law this year. That’s because Gov. Schwarzenegger has pledged that he won’t sign any […]