Community News and Events

by Jennifer Shaw and Melissa Whitehead | June 17, 2024 SOURCE: https://shawlawgroup.com/2024/06/new-california-employment-laws-effective-on-july-1-2024/ Most employers look for legal updates on new laws impacting their business at the start or end of each year. However, the laws and ordinances discussed below are effective on July 1, 2024. Workplace Violence Prevention Plans Senate Bill (“SB”) 553 requires employers to implement a… Read More »

BY HILLARY HOFFOWER  4 MINUTE READ   If you’re struggling to find a new job, you’re not alone. Alan Roberts, 59, estimates he’s sent out 1,000 résumés since he was laid off from his sales job in February. He thinks he’s heard back from less than 1% of them. “I just can’t believe how bad it has gotten out… Read More »

04.30.2024 Topics: Class Actions, Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation, New Laws & Legislation, Personnel Policies and Procedures By: Leigh A. White On April 29, 2024, the EEOC published its “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” (the “Guidance”). The Guidance updates and replaces the EEOC’s prior guidance documents, discusses the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia in which the Court held… Read More »

Insights 10.02.23 California lawmakers were pushing an aggressive legislative proposal this year that would have required almost every employer in the state to comply with a workplace violence prevention standard developed with healthcare employers in mind. This was despite the fact that Cal/OSHA had been working on a standard that would apply to general industries. Thankfully for… Read More »

02.28.2024 | UPDATES California recently updated two pamphlets that employers must provide to employees. The new pamphlets are (1) a “Time of Hire Pamphlet” pertaining to workers’ compensation (to be provided at the time of hire) and (2) a “For Your Benefit” pamphlet, pertaining to unemployment insurance (to be provided at the time of an… Read More »

Over the past year, the labor market has gradually slowed from the pandemic hiring highs of 2021 and early 2022. In fact, hiring rates in June of this year were down 21% compared to 2022. According to LinkedIn’s measure of labor market tightness, which looks at the ratio of job openings to active applicants, there is just one… Read More »

Published: Sep 28, 2023 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Beginning in April next year, California’s minimum wage for the state’s 500,000 fast-food workers will increase to $20 per hour – the average hourly wage for fast-food workers in 2022 was $16.21. Through the Fast Food Council, workers will have a stronger say in setting minimum wages and working conditions,… Read More »

Below is an update on the fate of these employment law bills so employers will know which ones are slated to become law. The Governor vetoed several noteworthy bills that would have expanded the state’s protected classes, employee work-from-home rights and CalWARN notice requirements. On the other hand, the Governor signed multiple significant employment law… Read More »

On October 4, 2023, Governor Newsom approved a new law, SB 616, that increases the amount of paid sick leave that nearly every employer in California must offer to employees.  Here are five key issues California employers need to understand about the new law and to comply with its requirements: 1. New requirements under SB 616:… Read More »

California employers will need to make changes to their background check and criminal history review process thanks to new Fair Chance Act regulations taking effect October 1. You should begin to prepare now for these new compliance obligations, starting with reviewing our list of seven things you need to know. California’s Fair Chance Act, Explained… Read More »