The material on this website is provided by Beeson, Tayer & Bodine for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented. Some of the articles are updated periodically, and are marked with the date of the last update. Again, readers should consult with their own legal counsel for the most current information and to obtain professional advice before acting on any of the information presented.
Author Archive
Legislature Extends Authority of Local Governments to Enforce Local Wage Laws
August 16, 2016 by
Christopher Hammer
Wage theft is a serious problem in California. In Los Angeles County alone approximately $26.6 million in wages is stolen from laborers every week. Because wage theft disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in California, including… Read More
Court Strikes Down Class Action Arbitration Waivers
June 1, 2016 by
Christopher Hammer
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 26 issued a watershed decision banning mandatory employment arbitration agreements that bar employees from bringing class-action claims. (Lewis v. Epic Systems Corp.) The court’s decision aligns it… Read More
Supreme Court Rejects Employer Attack on California’s Workplace Seating Requirement
April 20, 2016 by
Christopher Hammer
The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision confirming the right of California workers to take a seat on the job when the nature of the work allows. In issuing this decision, the Court… Read More
Court Rules Stress and Anxiety Caused by Manager Does Not Constitute Legally Protected Disability
June 8, 2015 by
Christopher Hammer
Both California and Federal law protects disabled employees from discrimination, and requires employers to reasonably accommodate disabled workers. One threshold question in all disability accommodation claims is whether the alleged disability is one that is… Read More
Shop Stewards Have Weingarten Rights, Too.
May 4, 2015 by
Christopher Hammer
Union members have the right to the presence of a union representative at an investigatory interview that the employee reasonably believes may result in discipline: this is the Weingarten right, named after the U.S. Supreme… Read More
Employment Law Ruling – ‘On-Call’ Rest Breaks Permissible in California
February 16, 2015 by
Christopher Hammer
A California Court of Appeal recently held that employers are not required to relieve their employees of all duties during paid rest breaks. (Augustus v. ABM Security Services, Inc., 14 C.D.O.S. 1123 (January 30, 2015).) … Read More
Legal Requirement for Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program Goes Into Effect
July 28, 2014 by
Christopher Hammer
Employers and employees as well as the San Francisco Bay air quality are likely to benefit from the upcoming implementation of this new employment benefit. In an effort to improve air quality, reduce emissions of… Read More
Weingarten Representatives Have Rights Too
April 17, 2014 by
Christopher Hammer
It has been long established law under the National Labor Relations Act that an employee has a statutory right to union representation at any employer investigatory interview that the employee reasonably fears may result in… Read More
‘Neutrality Agreements’ Dodge a Bullet
January 13, 2014 by
Christopher Hammer
Unions dodged a potentially lethal bullet when the U.S. Supreme Court recently decided, after hearing oral argument, not to issue a ruling in a case calling into question the legality of union-employer neutrality agreements. This… Read More
Federal Court: Route Salesman Exempt from Overtime Laws
July 24, 2013 by
Christopher Hammer
In a recent decision, a Federal Court ruled that a route salesman is an “Outside Salesperson” and thus exempt from overtime laws, which demonstrates a distinction between Federal and State Law. Although both federal and… Read More
Legislature Extends Authority of Local Governments to Enforce Local Wage Laws
August 16, 2016 by Christopher Hammer
Wage theft is a serious problem in California. In Los Angeles County alone approximately $26.6 million in wages is stolen from laborers every week. Because wage theft disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in California, including… Read More
Court Strikes Down Class Action Arbitration Waivers
June 1, 2016 by Christopher Hammer
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 26 issued a watershed decision banning mandatory employment arbitration agreements that bar employees from bringing class-action claims. (Lewis v. Epic Systems Corp.) The court’s decision aligns it… Read More
Supreme Court Rejects Employer Attack on California’s Workplace Seating Requirement
April 20, 2016 by Christopher Hammer
The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision confirming the right of California workers to take a seat on the job when the nature of the work allows. In issuing this decision, the Court… Read More
Court Rules Stress and Anxiety Caused by Manager Does Not Constitute Legally Protected Disability
June 8, 2015 by Christopher Hammer
Both California and Federal law protects disabled employees from discrimination, and requires employers to reasonably accommodate disabled workers. One threshold question in all disability accommodation claims is whether the alleged disability is one that is… Read More
Shop Stewards Have Weingarten Rights, Too.
May 4, 2015 by Christopher Hammer
Union members have the right to the presence of a union representative at an investigatory interview that the employee reasonably believes may result in discipline: this is the Weingarten right, named after the U.S. Supreme… Read More
Employment Law Ruling – ‘On-Call’ Rest Breaks Permissible in California
February 16, 2015 by Christopher Hammer
A California Court of Appeal recently held that employers are not required to relieve their employees of all duties during paid rest breaks. (Augustus v. ABM Security Services, Inc., 14 C.D.O.S. 1123 (January 30, 2015).) … Read More
Legal Requirement for Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program Goes Into Effect
July 28, 2014 by Christopher Hammer
Employers and employees as well as the San Francisco Bay air quality are likely to benefit from the upcoming implementation of this new employment benefit. In an effort to improve air quality, reduce emissions of… Read More
Weingarten Representatives Have Rights Too
April 17, 2014 by Christopher Hammer
It has been long established law under the National Labor Relations Act that an employee has a statutory right to union representation at any employer investigatory interview that the employee reasonably fears may result in… Read More
‘Neutrality Agreements’ Dodge a Bullet
January 13, 2014 by Christopher Hammer
Unions dodged a potentially lethal bullet when the U.S. Supreme Court recently decided, after hearing oral argument, not to issue a ruling in a case calling into question the legality of union-employer neutrality agreements. This… Read More
Federal Court: Route Salesman Exempt from Overtime Laws
July 24, 2013 by Christopher Hammer
In a recent decision, a Federal Court ruled that a route salesman is an “Outside Salesperson” and thus exempt from overtime laws, which demonstrates a distinction between Federal and State Law. Although both federal and… Read More
