RECENT POSTS
In A Time of Crisis: Consider Force Majeure and Business Interruption
Because of the Coronavirus crisis, many businesses are considering whether to modify, reduce or temporarily cease operations. This is a natural course of action and in many cases, these actions align with requests of local,
COVID-19: California Employer Frequently Asked Questions
(Updated March 19, 2020) 1. Can I ask employees to leave the workplace and stay home if I suspect they have COVID-19? If an employee is exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19 (i.e., cough, shortness of
Coronavirus: 13 Things Employers Should Do to Protect Employees, Customers
With the number of Coronavirus cases increasing daily, many employers wonder what steps can and should be taken to protect their employees and customers, while still complying with California and Federal labor laws. Based on
Franchise 101: Romaine Rejection; and A Franchisor Without Urgency
Franchisor 101: Romaine Rejection Many will recall the 2018 national outbreak of E. coli bacteria linked to romaine lettuce. In April that year, an Ohio franchisor ordered its restaurants to stop serving romaine lettuce and
Bad Apple: Employee Searches are Compensable Time
The California Supreme Court clarified in a highly anticipated decision, that time spent waiting for and undergoing mandatory exit searches of personal items is considered compensable time under California’s Wage Orders. In Frlekin v.Apple Inc.,we
Franchise 101: Wrong Tools to Avoid California Courts; and Don’t Terminate the Hand That Delivers Your Pizza
Franchisor 101: The Wrong Tools to Avoid California Courts The Ninth Circuit ruled that a California Matco Tool franchisee, John Fleming, could bring a class action wage and hour suit in California, even though a
Why Should I Get My Estate Planning Done Now?
Last Sunday I learned that my mother’s dear friend who is very active, hikes daily, gardens daily, does senior yoga weekly, eats a healthy diet, and has many volunteer and social commitments that keep her
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Do NOT Pay Off – Just Ask the DFEH
We previously wrote about Riot Games’ $10,000,000 settlement of a class action lawsuit for alleged discrimination, retaliation and harassment. Although many may consider this a generous settlement, the State of California disagrees. In an unusual
Employers, in case you were wondering, your employees cannot compete with you
Many California laws seek to restrict the terms and conditions an employer may place on an employee during employment. Yesterday, the California Court of Appeal confirmed that Business and Professions Code Section 16600 is not
Good News for California Employers Following a Difficult 2019 Legislative Session
On January 1, 2020, California businesses faced several new laws that may significantly impact business operations, including AB 5 (codifying the “ABC” test) and AB 51 (restricting the use of mandatory arbitration). On the positive