California E-Verify Law Presents Challenges for Some Employers

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Under a new California law that took effect on January 1, 2016, California employers may face civil penalties of up to $10,000 for misusing E-Verify, the federal electronic employment verification system some employers use to verify employment eligibility of newly hired employees. The new  California E-Verify law makes it more difficult for some employers to …Read more

Avoiding Wrongful Termination Claims

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No matter how careful you are in screening prospective employees, sometimes the fit between employer and employee just isn’t a good one. When efforts to address a staff member’s behavior have been exhausted, or if termination is contemplated, it’s important to understand the legal view of the employer-employee relationship. A wrongful termination claim can be …Read more

Employment Laws That Companies Must Know to Stay Out of Trouble

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Federal and state employment law is incredibly complex, with overlapping and sometimes conflicting provisions that can leave a business owner wondering what provisions of law must it comply with and how and when to do so. California’s employment laws are among the most complex and onerous in the nation, and contribute, in no small part, …Read more

Small Business Employers are bound by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act [FEHA]

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In California, small business employers who regularly employ five (5) or more employees are bound by the State’s anti-discrimination law, the Fair Employment and Housing Act [FEHA].  An employer with five or more employees cannot discriminate against its employees on the basis of “race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical …Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court, in Vance v. Ball State University, Clarified the Definition of “Supervisor” in Title VII Harassment Cases

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On June 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that clarified the definition of “supervisor” in Title VII workplace harassment cases. How the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision will impact California employers remains to be seen. California’s civil rights statute, the Fair Employment and Housing Act [FEHA], relies upon a different definition of a “supervisor” …Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court Makes It Harder for Employees to Bring Title VII Retaliation Claims against Their Employers

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On June 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion that changed the standard for employees who bring Title VII retaliation claims against their employers. The effect that this decision will have on California employers remains to be seen.  California’s civil rights statute, the Fair Employment and Housing Act [FEHA], applies a different causation standard …Read more