Legal Update
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California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is Back in 2022 with Different Provisions
By SHLC on February 11, 202201On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB 114 into law, which requires California employers with 26 or more employees to provide up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for qualifying COVID-19-related reasons (“2022 SPSL”). The obligation to provide the new paid sick leave begins on February 19, 2022. As before, employers must also provide retroactive pay from January […] -
Recent Nevada Law Places New Restrictions on Non-Compete Agreements
On October 1, 2021, new provisions took effect within NRS 613.195, Nevada’s primary statute governing the enforceability of employee covenants not to compete. The new provisions—that result from the passage of Assembly Bill 47—have changed the legal landscape with respect to non-compete agreements, and have left many employers wondering whether they can continue to use and enforce these agreements with […] -
California Requires Employers to Provide 12 Weeks of Job Protected Leave to Care for a Parent-in-Law
On September 27, 2021, Governor Newsom signed AB 1033 into law to include leave to care for a parent-in-law within the definition of family care and medical leave. Last year, SB 1383 amended and expanded the California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) to apply to small California businesses. For more information, read our blog on SB 1383 here and listen to […] -
Ninth Circuit Removes Preliminary Injunction, Mostly Upholds California Law Prohibiting Mandatory Employment Arbitration Agreements
On September 15, 2021, in the case of Chamber of Commerce of the U.S., et al. v. Bonta, et al., No. 20-15291 (9th Cir. Sept. 15, 2021) (read the decision here), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision regarding the future of California’s AB 51, which regulates employer use of mandatory arbitration agreements. The Ninth […] -
California Supreme Court Rules the Regular Rate of Pay is Proper Method for Calculating Premium Pay for Rest, Recovery and Meal Periods
On June 15, 2021, in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, the California Supreme Court held that the term “regular rate of compensation” means the same as the “regular rate of pay” and not the employee’s base hourly rate. This holding is important for California employers because it means that premiums for non-compliant rest, recovery and meal periods must be […] -
CALIFORNIA ADOPTS EXTENDED COVID-19 SUPPLEMENTAL PAID SICK LEAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR EMPLOYERS – OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE LEAVE BEGINS MARCH 29, 2021
On March 19, 2021, Governor Newsom signed SB 95, which requires California employers with 25 or more employees to provide additional supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons to their California workers. The obligation to provide the new paid leave begins on March 29, 2021, but requires retroactive pay back to January 1, 2021 to employees who took leave […] -
The Pay Data Reporting Portal has Opened – Employers Must Submit Data By March 31st
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) opened its new Pay Data Reporting Portal on February 16, 2021 to assist employers in complying with California’s Pay Data Reporting Law that was enacted late last year. Under the new law (Govt. Code section 12999), private employers with 100 or more total employees, with at least one employee in California, […] -
California Supreme Court Confirms that Case Adopting “ABC Test” for Independent Contractors Has Retroactive Effect
On January 14, 2021, the California Supreme Court issued a long-awaited opinion regarding whether its prior ruling adopting the “ABC Test” for determining independent contractor status applies retroactively. The Court answered in the affirmative, providing finality to a question that had been lingering for nearly three years. (Download a copy of the Supreme Court’s opinion here.) Relevant Background In April […] -
WHEN ARE CALIFONIA EMPLOYERS ALLOWED TO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT TO A COVID-19 TEST? THE RULES HAVE CHANGED
Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, California employers received guidance from a variety of State and federal agencies on the subject of whether, how and when employers can require employees to submit to viral testing for COVID-19. Adding an additional layer of complexity, on November 30, 2020, Cal/OSHA published emergency regulations that create a deluge of new obligations and […] -
CALIFORNIA EXPANDS FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE OBLIGATIONS TO SMALL EMPLOYERS
On September 17, 2020, California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 1383, which amends and expands the California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) to apply to small California businesses. Beginning January 1, 2021, all California businesses with five (5) or more employees must provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid job-protected leave. As explained below, SB 1383 expands the CFRA beyond […]