The #MeToo movement is two years old this month, and what a profound cultural shift it has been. Workplace conduct that just a few years ago was tolerated, ignored, overlooked, and even condoned, has now been forbidden. The list of top executives, journalists, celebrities and others whose careers and reputations have been decimated gets longer
Top 10 List of California’s Newest Employment Laws
Our Labor & Employment team has been busy this fall! As loyal readers, your inboxes have been filled with our updates on all the changes to California employment laws. This legislative session ended on October 14th, so we thought it would be helpful to recap the changes you should have on your radars. These new
Employers Provided with Extra Time to Comply with California’s New Harassment Prevention Training Requirements
In 2018, California passed numerous pieces of legislation in response to the #MeToo movement that expanded the obligations of employers to provide sexual harassment prevention training. SB 1343 is one such piece of legislation that went into effect this year and requires that all California employers with five or more employees provide at least two
Sexual Overperception Bias and Workplace Harassment
Humans are not unbiased observers and decision makers. I’m not talking here about prejudice based on protected categories. I’m talking more generally about systemic flaws in how our brains interpret and act upon information. Take for example the Ebbinghaus Illusion. There are two red circles in the image below. While people consistently see the left
Litigating Sex Harassment in the #MeToo Era
The #MeToo movement started more than a year and a half ago. Somewhat surprisingly, the number of sexual harassment cases filed has not increased significantly. However, we’ve seen significant changes in how those cases get handled and resolved. For one thing, more claims get resolved before litigation gets filed. Employers who want to avoid
Valentine’s Day Considerations for the #MeToo Era
I’ve been doing a lot of harassment prevention training lately.
One reason is because it is an odd year (2019), and the requirement to train managers & supervisors started in 2005, so many California businesses are on an odd year cycle for in-person training (with online options in between).
Another reason is that such training
New Year, New Employment Issues
As the new year begins and I trade my ski boots for my office heels, I’m committed to getting organized for 2019. Specifically, I have compiled a list of issues to keep on my radar for the upcoming year, and I thought I would share them.
1) Keeping up with Local Developments- Though California municipalities,
New California Employment Laws for 2019
It’s that time of year again. Time for holiday parties, ugly sweaters, and summaries of legal developments.
The #MeToo movement has resulted in a slew of new bills addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. They include:
- Assembly Bill (AB) 3109 prohibits language in contracts or settlement agreements that bars anyone from testifying in administrative,
Holiday Party Tips for the #MeToo Era
The trend is to move away from holiday parties. Some companies are opting for a family picnic in the summer instead, or a party in January after the holiday season is over. If your company is still planning a holiday party this season, given the heightened attention to harassment issues, here are some tips to
CA Enacts New Anti-Harassment Laws in Response to #MeToo Movement
No lazy Sunday for Governor Jerry Brown! Today he signed four new bills into law, taking major steps to combat sexual harassment in the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Here is a brief overview of the new laws and what they mean for California employers:
- Senate Bill 820 prohibits non-disclosure provisions in settlement