Employment Contracts
Here Comes Your Licensing Board
Today’s newsletter provides licensees with an overview of what California’s licensing boards are doing in the realm of enforcement. Then we turn to what you need to do if you are the subject of a complaint, investigation, or Accusation. Our numbers are drawn from the 2023 Annual Reports from the Medical Board of California (MBC)…
Read MorePAGA – Where We Are Today
In this edition, we delve into a crucial piece of legislation impacting California employers—the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”)—and recent changes to the law. What is PAGA? PAGA allows employees to sue their employers for labor code violations. Essentially, it deputizes employees to enforce labor laws that the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”) might…
Read MoreUnderstanding Independent Contractors in California Post-AB5
The landscape for independent contractors in California has significantly changed following the enactment of Assembly Bill 5 (AB5). AB5, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, codified and expanded the “ABC test” to determine whether a worker is classified as an independent contractor or an employee. This article provides a refresher on the ABC…
Read MoreSCOTUS: Employment Law & Healthcare Law Updates in 2024
Last November, we sent a newsletter previewing certain cases before the Supreme Court. Specifically, we summarized the matters most likely to “directly impact the employment law or healthcare law sectors on a day-to-day basis.” Well, the results are now in—let’s take a look at how things shook out and what impact the decisions could have. …
Read MoreHealth Care Minimum Wage Increase Delayed Again!
As you may remember from our previous newsletter, SB 525 was signed into law last October, aiming to gradually—but significantly—increase the minimum wage for healthcare workers to $25 per hour, starting on June 1, 2024. But the significant budget shortfall this year has caused the Legislature to agree with Governor Newsom to delay implementing the new law. On…
Read MoreArtificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Assault & Battery, and Possible Coverage Changes
Today we continue with our series on bills the Legislature is currently considering, looking at AI in healthcare, assault and battery, and (possibly) huge changes to coverage. You can see our prior newsletter on what’s being considered here. Artificial Intelligence With Artificial Intelligence so much in the news of late, it’s unsurprising a few bills…
Read MoreREMINDER: Workplace-Violence-Prevention Plans in Place by July 1, 2024
This is a friendly reminder that the new workplace-violence law will take effect on July 1! The law contains numerous requirements for employers, including that they implement comprehensive workplace-violence-prevention plans, provide workplace-violence training, and maintain violent-incident logs. For a detailed summary of these requirements, check out our previous newsletter here. If you have any questions about the…
Read MoreJuly 1st Deadline for Workplace Violence Prevention Plans!
Our prior newsletter discussed SB 553, which introduced new rules regarding workplace-violence protection in California. Under those new rules, most California employers must have an extensive workplace violence prevention plan in place by July 1, 2024. Below, we provide a refresher on the new law and some resources that can help you get ready for…
Read MoreUntimely Payment of Arbitrator’s Fees Can Result in Severe Consequences
Today, we’re highlighting three recent cases that address an essential aspect of arbitration proceedings: the timely payment of the arbitrator’s fees. These cases are a cautionary tale, because failing to pay on time can result in severe consequences, including losing your right to arbitrate at all. Paying versus Mailing Doe v. Superior Court (2023) 95…
Read MoreRecent Ruling Clarifies Arbitration Agreements Covering Sexual-Harassment Claims
The California Court of Appeal recently issued a ruling in Kader v. Southern California Medical Center, Inc. that clarified the scope of arbitration agreements addressing sexual-harassment claims. First, let’s review the dates—because the timing matters in this new case and for employers with arbitration agreements. The employee, Kader, and the employer, Southern California Medical Center, Inc., initially…
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