Legal News Articles

Can California Labor Code Computers Not Keep Up?

Sacramento, CA A California labor law issue that's been simmering for years in the Golden State appears to pit state employees against elected officials, some with ties to unions. At the end of the day, it seems, California labor employment law is only as effective as the computers that regulate it.

July 20, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

California Labor Law: Misclassified Independent Contractors

San Francisco, CA Employers should think twice before misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid paying employee benefits, overtime, meal compensation and business-related expenses under California labor law. On July 13, 2010, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals held that employers cannot use choice-of-law contracts to avoid California labor regulations.

July 14, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

California Overtime: Threatened and Harassed

San Diego, CA "I worked at a restaurant where the managers consider tips to be our overtime," says Cheryl. "We didn't get any breaks, nor were we allowed to bring food on the premises from another eatery. When I complained to my manager that they were violating the California labor law, I was laid off. Now my lawyer is filing a lawsuit against them."

June 29, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

California Labor Law Dispute over Nursing Levels

Sacramento, CA A California judge has forbade nurses from exercising their implied right to conduct a one-day strike, claiming that the protests would violate California labor law.

June 22, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

California Labor Law Violation: "Your Check Is in the Mail"

Martinez, CA Denise's co-workers and a few of her bosses made life so miserable for her that she had no choice but to resign. "The bosses accepted my resignation and, as per our contract, I gave three weeks notice," says Denise. "But the office manager said, 'Why don't you just leave now, because you were just fired.' I was in shock." The next day Denise asked if her final check was ready and the boss said it was sent by certified mail - a violation of the California labor law.

June 15, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

Bag Check Is on the Clock in California

San Francisco, CA There is some refreshing about an attorney like Patrick R. Kitchin who answers his own phone. Maybe that's not always the case, but on this day it was Kitchin, calm and collected, on the other end of the line. Kitchin has tugged on Ralph Lauren's shirttails over violations of California labor law a few times over the years and he's just obtained a $4 million mid-trial settlement on behalf over 6000 current and former employees who objected to the company's off the clock mandatory "bag check."

May 25, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

Discrimination against a Senior Black Woman: a California Labor Law Violation

Pasadena, CA "It's not just about me," says Florene, 75. "There are lots of people who are discriminated against by Sodexo. My reason to file a complaint is to add my voice, because if people don't, this kind of behavior will continue. How can companies in the 21st century act this way?" Florene is not alone in claiming that Sodexo violated California labor laws.

May 25, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

California Labor Law Basis for Federal Lactation Accommodation Health Reform

Washington, DC According to California labor law, nursing mothers who have returned to work have been granted allowances and protections for the purposes of nursing. This nearly decade-old section of the labor code quietly made it into the federal health care reform bill, allowing for California lactation provisions to serve as the model for the federal program.

May 18, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

Hands in the Tip Jar—Violation of California Labor Law

Los Angeles, CA: Cheryl and her co-workers at the dog grooming salon suspected some time ago that their boss was taking a good chunk of their tips, but after Cheryl heard about the Starbucks settlement (the company was ordered to pay back more than $100 million to California baristas), she realized her boss was ripping them off. California labor law prohibits managers and supervisors from sharing in employee tips.

May 11, 2010

CALIFORNIA LABOR LAW

Workers' Memorial Day Addresses California Labor Law

San Francisco, CA Californians are holding a number of events this Workers' Memorial Day to commemorate and defend workers worldwide who have been injured and killed on the job, from biotech workers to farmhands to dock workers. These events are also held to ensure the future health and safety of workers according to California labor law.

April 28, 2010