I read an article yesterday about a writer accused of sexual harassment. So what, you are probably thinking? While articles like that are commonplace these days, what infuriated me was that the individual had been investigated multiple times for sexual harassment related misconduct. The alleged harassment occurred at numerous companies, with prominent HR departments, yet
Challenges of Investigating Harassment Claims in the #MeToo Era
I don’t know Aziz Ansari and I can’t purport to know what happened in his apartment on the night of the first date that has headlined the news this week. But, after 17 years as a labor & employment attorney, with a concentration in counseling on more than 100 sexual harassment claims in the workplace,
Preparing for New Year Minimum Wage Increases
I’m having a hard time believing December is here, perhaps partly due to our unseasonably warm temperatures here in LA. The holidays will be quickly upon us and the turn of the new year brings increases in the minimum wage across the state. On January 1, 2018, the California state minimum wage goes up to
California Guarantees Job Protection for More New Parents
Starting January 1, 2018, new parents in California can rest a bit easier. Governor Jerry Brown signed SB 63, officially titled the Parental Leave Act, into law yesterday which will impact employers with between 20 and 49 employees–in other words, employers who are not subject to the federal FMLA. Mirroring the FMLA employee eligibility requirements,
Paid Parental Leave Policies Under Scrutiny
If the EEOC’s recent lawsuit against Estee Lauder is any indication of things to come, now is a good time to review your parental leave policy. The crux of the policy at issue is a grant of six weeks of paid parental leave for a primary caregiver and two weeks for a secondary caregiver. On
One More Required Notice for CA New Hires
We previously blogged about the numerous documents CA employers need to give new employees upon hire. Well, add the “RIGHTS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING” notice to the list. This notice has just been published for dissemination and became effective immediately. Companies with 25 or more employees must now provide new
July 1st Minimum Wage Increase Cheat Sheet
With the minimum wage increasing in cities across the state, I have been getting numerous calls and e-mails about those increases. I blogged about the announcement of the LA Hotel Ordinance increase already, but there’s more.
In an effort to get everything in one place, I’ve compiled links to all the new minimum wage increases
New Los Angeles Hotel Ordinance Minimum Wage Rate Announced
Its almost July 1st and that means increased minimum wages in the City of Los Angeles as well as under the Citywide Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance. Hotel workers covered under the Ordinance will see their hourly rate jump from $15.37 per hour to $15.66 per hour, as announced this morning. Don’t shoot the messenger!
CA Required Onboarding Materials Get A Makeover
California employers are required to provide employees with several documents upon hire. But not all CA employers do. I was working with a retail boutique chain last week and when I provided them the list of required onboarding documents, the manager said she has been in retail for 20 years and had never seen the
The Ugly Side of Salon & Spa Compensation
Earlier this week, I was advising a client on the termination of one of their spa employees. During the course of the conversation about his poor performance, the issue of his compensation came up. Turns out, while the termination was completely legitimate and non-discriminatory, we discovered liability for the client based on the employee’s commission-only