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2023: The Year Pay Transparency Becomes a Much Bigger Deal

The continuing trend of state and local government regulating more aspects of the employment relationship continues, and this time the focus is on pay transparency. These new laws require employers to disclose the pay they offer in job postings.  Colorado was first on the scene in 2021.  Since then, California and Washington have adopted new […]

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Two More States Enact CROWN Act Laws Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Hair Texture and Style

Louisiana[1] and Massachusetts[2] recently became the latest two states to pass laws on Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN Act). CROWN Act laws generally prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles and hair textures that are associated with race or national origin. Currently, eighteen states and numerous municipalities have now enacted laws expanding […]

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SCOTUS Issues Employers Relief in PAGA Actions

Since 2004, the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) has been a thorn in the side of employers in the State of California. Indeed, there are approximately 17 PAGA actions filed every day in the state. A PAGA claim allows a single employee, who alleges a single labor code violation, to step into the shoes of […]

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Beware of the Use of Artificial Intelligence Recruitment and Hiring Tools

As the use of artificial intelligence recruitment and hiring tools becomes more prevalent, it is important to remember that such processes are subject to anti-discrimination laws. Employers have an obligation to inspect such tools and processes for bias based on any protected class (including disability and age) and should have plans to provide reasonable accommodations […]

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New Employee Safety Bill May Increase Litigation in California

The California Senate recently pass a bill which, if enacted, would permit employees in California to refuse to report to work when they feel “unsafe.”  The bill purports to apply during major natural disasters and states of extreme peril, but contains little limit on what may constitute an emergency condition permitting an employee to refuse […]

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Fighting Abuse in the Workplace – NLRB Examines Employee Abusive Conduct Under NLRA Law

Employers often confront situations involving employees’ argumentative, aggressive, and opprobrious conduct during department or other group meetings, evaluations, or disciplinary meetings with supervisors. Even though the employees’ opinions or arguments on the subject matter discussed at those meetings may constitute “protected activity” under the National Labor Relations Act (“Act”) (see Legal Alert “Inherently Protected Activity” […]

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Of Counsel

Effective April 1, 2022: Tucson, Arizona’s Minimum Wage Ordinance

It’s not an April Fools’ Day joke – tomorrow, Tucson’s Minimum Wage Act (the “Act”), also known as Proposition 206, takes effect. The Act increases the minimum wage to $13.00 per hour for all employees (full-time, part-time, temporary, and those engaged through an employment or staffing agency) who perform at least five hours of work per workweek within […]

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It’s Official: The “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act” Is Now Law

As anticipated, President Joe Biden signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (“the Act”) today. Effective immediately, the Act amends the Federal Arbitration Act and limits the enforceability of U.S. employers’ mandatory arbitration agreements that require all employment-related claims be arbitrated, rather than litigated. We discussed here the Act’s carve-out for […]

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Of Counsel

What’s New This Week In California COVID law?

California employers have certainly had to be on their toes these last two years when it comes to dealing with COVID in the workplace. This week was no different. The Labor Commissioner just released the mandatory poster regarding the 2022 version of COVID Supplemental Paid Sick Leave. English and Spanish versions of the poster can […]

Claims of Sexual Misconduct Can No Longer Be Forced Into Mandatory Arbitration

The majority of U.S. employers have elected to adopt the use of mandatory arbitration agreements, requiring that all employment-related claims be arbitrated and not litigated.  Pursuant to a series of landmark United States Supreme Court decisions, such mandatory arbitration agreements are permissible and enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act.  Most such agreements contain class action […]

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Of Counsel