Author Archives: Jay Butchko
California Lawmakers Pass Caste Discrimination Bill, But it is Not Yet Law
On August 24, 2023, the California State Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of Senate Bill (SB) 403—legislation that will bar caste discrimination in the workplace in the state. As the bill already passed the state senate earlier this year, and Governor Newsom vetoed the Bill in October, it is not clear as of this… Read More »
An Overview of AB 1228 (Regulations for Fast Food Employers in California)
On September 28, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1228 (AB 1228) into law. It is a controversial—and previously delayed—law that will have major implications for the fast food industry in our state. Here, our Coachella Valley and Riverside County employment lawyers highlight key things that fast food employers need to know… Read More »
An Overview of Best Practices for California Employers Who Receive a Reasonable Accommodation Request from an Employee
Federal law and California law provide certain workplace protections to employees with disabilities. It is imperative that employers comply fully with their legal obligations. Among other things, employers must handle reasonable accommodation requests in a proper, professional and lawful manner. Here, our California workplace solutions attorney provides a basic overview of the best practices… Read More »
What Employers Need to Know About California’s New Paid Sick Leave Law (SB 616)
On October 4, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 616 (SB 616) into law. The statute expands paid sick level protections for workers. It is crucial that all employers in California understand what responsibilities they have—and evaluate whether their obligations are changing—as of SB 616’s effective date, January 1, 2024. In this… Read More »
Top Ten 2024 Labor and Employment Law Updates
More Paid Sick Leave SB 616 expanded California’s existing Paid Sick Leave law, in the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act, as of January 1, 2024, requiring all employers to provide at least five (5) paid sick days or 40 hours per year to employees instead of the three (3) days or 24 hours required in… Read More »
Is an Employer Required Offer Severance Pay When an Employee Leaves in California?
Severance packages typically include pay and/or other benefits for workers who leave companies or organizations. As an employer operating a business in California, you may want to ask: Am I required to provide severance to outgoing employees? In California, the answer is “no”—severance pay is not required. That being said, many employers do offer… Read More »
What are the Holiday Pay Rules for Employers in California?
As an employer in California, it is imperative that your practices are fully consistent with all federal, state, and local requirements. You may be wondering: Does California have any special requirements for holiday hours or holiday pay? The short answer is “no” —the general pay/hour standards still apply during the holiday season. Here, our… Read More »
Employers Beware: California Regulators Announce CCPA Compliance “Sweep”
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state law that initially took effect on January 1st, 2020. It put more stringent requirements in place for companies that take, solicit, and use sensitive consumer information. Recently, the law was reformed. As of January 1, 2023, the CCPA privacy protections were extended to include information… Read More »
An Overview of Adolph v. Uber Technologies (What it Means for Employers in California)
On July 17th, 2023, the Supreme Court of California published an opinion in the case of Adolph v. Uber Technologies. The state’s highest court held that plaintiffs (employees) in Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits retain the ability to pursue representative claims even if they are compelled to arbitrate their individual claims. It is… Read More »
California Regulators Certify State Minimum Wage for 2024—It Will Increase to $16.00
On August 1, 2023, the California Department of Finance sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom certifying the statewide minimum wage increase for next year. As of January 1, 2024, the state-level minimum wage will jump by 3.5 percent—increasing from $15.50 per hour to $16.00 per hour. In this article, our California employment attorney… Read More »
