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.
Employment Law
Governor Signs Trio of New Anti-Harassment Laws
October 24, 2018 by
Andrew Baker
Governor Brown on September 30 signed three new bills addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Significant features of the three bills, all of which are effective January 1, 2019, include the following.New Training: SB 1343… Read More
Business Operator Individually Liable for Wage & Hour Penalties After Business Goes Bankrupt
October 18, 2018 by
Andrew Baker
A California Court of Appeal ruled last month that former employees of an Italian restaurant that went bankrupt after trial may recover from the restaurant’s operator civil penalties and attorneys’ fees for wage and hour… Read More
California Supreme Court Rejects “De Minimis” Defense to Wage Claims
July 31, 2018 by
Lorrie Bradley
The California Supreme Court recently expanded the ability of workers to recover unpaid wages even if the unpaid time occurs in small amounts. Troester v. Starbucks Corp. (Cal. Supreme Court case no. S234969, July 26,… Read More
Cal Supreme Court Deals Blow to the “Independent Contractor” Scam
May 3, 2018 by
Andrew Baker
On April 30, the California Supreme Court issued a crushing blow to the “gig economy.” In Dynamex Operations West v. Lee, the Court imposed a standard that will make it much harder for Uber and… Read More
Historic Gender-Based Wage Disparity Cannot Justify Future Gender-Based Disparity
April 30, 2018 by
Christopher Hammer
In a significant decision expanding the protections of the Federal Equal Pay Act, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that an employer cannot lawfully rely on an employee’s prior salary history, either alone… Read More
California SC Decides How to Factor Bonus into Overtime
April 16, 2018 by
Christopher Hammer
California law requires employers to pay non-exempt employees for all hours worked over eight in a day, or forty in a week, at a premium rate of 1.5 times the “regular rate” of pay –… Read More
California WARN Act Applies to Temporary Layoffs
January 4, 2018 by
Lorrie Bradley
Both state and federal law requires employers to give advance notice before initiating a “mass layoff” to avoid the disruptive effects to workers and their communities. The federal and California laws are each called the… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (3 of 4)
December 20, 2017 by
Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
Whistleblower ProtectionsSB 306– Injunctive Relief for Unlawful RetaliationExisting law protects workers from retaliation for reporting their employer’s improper or illegal actions. This bill allows the Labor Commissioner or the employee to seek a temporary injunction… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (2 of 4)
December 13, 2017 by
Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
Wage and Hour LawsAB 1066 – Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions of Agricultural WorkersHistorically, California has excluded agricultural workers from many important employee protections. This law removes the exemption for agricultural employees regarding hours, meal… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (1 of 4)
December 6, 2017 by
Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
With a Democrat-controlled super-majority, the California Legislature passed several important labor and employment bills during the 2017 session that Governor Brown recently signed into law. Most notably, there are new protections for immigrant and agricultural… Read More
Governor Signs Trio of New Anti-Harassment Laws
October 24, 2018 by Andrew Baker
Governor Brown on September 30 signed three new bills addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Significant features of the three bills, all of which are effective January 1, 2019, include the following.New Training: SB 1343… Read More
Business Operator Individually Liable for Wage & Hour Penalties After Business Goes Bankrupt
October 18, 2018 by Andrew Baker
A California Court of Appeal ruled last month that former employees of an Italian restaurant that went bankrupt after trial may recover from the restaurant’s operator civil penalties and attorneys’ fees for wage and hour… Read More
California Supreme Court Rejects “De Minimis” Defense to Wage Claims
July 31, 2018 by Lorrie Bradley
The California Supreme Court recently expanded the ability of workers to recover unpaid wages even if the unpaid time occurs in small amounts. Troester v. Starbucks Corp. (Cal. Supreme Court case no. S234969, July 26,… Read More
Cal Supreme Court Deals Blow to the “Independent Contractor” Scam
May 3, 2018 by Andrew Baker
On April 30, the California Supreme Court issued a crushing blow to the “gig economy.” In Dynamex Operations West v. Lee, the Court imposed a standard that will make it much harder for Uber and… Read More
Historic Gender-Based Wage Disparity Cannot Justify Future Gender-Based Disparity
April 30, 2018 by Christopher Hammer
In a significant decision expanding the protections of the Federal Equal Pay Act, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that an employer cannot lawfully rely on an employee’s prior salary history, either alone… Read More
California SC Decides How to Factor Bonus into Overtime
April 16, 2018 by Christopher Hammer
California law requires employers to pay non-exempt employees for all hours worked over eight in a day, or forty in a week, at a premium rate of 1.5 times the “regular rate” of pay –… Read More
California WARN Act Applies to Temporary Layoffs
January 4, 2018 by Lorrie Bradley
Both state and federal law requires employers to give advance notice before initiating a “mass layoff” to avoid the disruptive effects to workers and their communities. The federal and California laws are each called the… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (3 of 4)
December 20, 2017 by Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
Whistleblower ProtectionsSB 306– Injunctive Relief for Unlawful RetaliationExisting law protects workers from retaliation for reporting their employer’s improper or illegal actions. This bill allows the Labor Commissioner or the employee to seek a temporary injunction… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (2 of 4)
December 13, 2017 by Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
Wage and Hour LawsAB 1066 – Wages, Hours, and Working Conditions of Agricultural WorkersHistorically, California has excluded agricultural workers from many important employee protections. This law removes the exemption for agricultural employees regarding hours, meal… Read More
BTB Annual Legislative Round-up (1 of 4)
December 6, 2017 by Peter McEntee, Sarah Kanter and Christopher Hammer
With a Democrat-controlled super-majority, the California Legislature passed several important labor and employment bills during the 2017 session that Governor Brown recently signed into law. Most notably, there are new protections for immigrant and agricultural… Read More
