Tag: california hr
Race Bias Charges and Lawsuits Result in Costly Settlements
A federal judge recently granted final approval of a settlement resolving a class action race bias lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Walgreens Co., the nation’s largest drugstore chain. Under the settlement, Walgreens will pay over $24 million to approximately 10,000 African-American workers who charged they were discriminated against in […]
Great California Workplaces: California Pacific Medical Center Invests in Its Employees; Winning Strategies
California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco is this year’s winner of our 2007 Great California Workplaces Award in the nonprofit category. Like most hospitals, it faces a difficult challenge of attracting and retaining qualified employees: Healthcare professionals—especially nurses—have many options in today’s job market, and they’ll go where they can best utilize their […]
Great California Workplaces: Quality and Sustainability Drive Lundberg Family Farms’ Winning Commitment to Its Employees
Lundberg Family Farms is a family-owned-and-operated business in Richvale that produces and markets high-quality organic rice and rice products using environmentally friendly farming processes. Lundberg uses sustainable methods that protect the land and other natural resources for future generations, from the field to all aspects of production and marketing. This commitment to care and quality […]
New California Supreme Court CFRA Ruling: Holding Down a Job While on Medical Leave from Another Employer Not Automatic Grounds for Denying CFRA Leave
Suppose you have an employee who requests medical leave because she has a medical condition that, she claims, interferes with her ability to do her job. In the course of determining whether this time off qualifies as protected family and medical leave, you discover that she is continuing to work for another employer, performing similar […]
Wrongful Termination: Labor Relations Law Preempted Employee’s Wrongful Discharge Lawsuit—But Caution Still Required
Richard Luke was a maintenance engineer for Collotype Labels USA, Inc., a Napa manufacturer of wine and liquor labels. Luke was suspended for three days for allegedly violating an absence-related work rule. He disagreed with the suspension and handled it by emailing Nigel Vinecombe, the group managing director for Collotype’s Australia office. Luke titled the […]
What Should We Do About Informal Business Emails?
Our employees are too informal in their work emails to clients, vendors, etc. They are saying things they shouldn’t—such as speaking negatively about company policies—and their tone is too informal for outside business contacts. What can we do?
Family and Medical Leave: New FMLA Leave Rights for Military Families; Poster Required
The new National Defense Authorization Act expands the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to permit two new types of workplace leave for family members of injured military personnel and military reservists called to active duty. Here’s an overview of the requirements.
Family and Medical Leave: DOL Proposes Changes to FMLA Regulations; A Look at the Highlights
In February, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a long-awaited proposal to update and retool Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) regulations. The lengthy proposal covers notice requirements, medical certifications, eligibility, the definition of “continuing treatment” for a serious health condition, fitness for duty, and more. The changes are generally welcome news for employers.
Domestic Partners: Do We Have to Give ‘Kin Care’ Leave to Domestic Partners?
An increasing number of our employees are registering with domestic partners. Can an employee take kin care leave to spend time with his or her domestic partner?— Stephen D., HR Manager in Walnut Creek