REPRESENTING UNIONS & EMPLOYEES SINCE 1936
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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

Give Me a Break! Court Clears Up Confusion on When Rest Breaks Must Be Provided Employment

May 2, 2016 by

California’s rest-break rule requires employers to provide employees with a paid ten-minute rest period which “insofar as practicable” must be in the middle of each “work period.”  The rule specifies that one break must be… Read More

Supreme Court Rejects Employer Attack on California’s Workplace Seating Requirement

April 20, 2016 by

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

Great Day for California’s Working Families

March 31, 2016 by

Today, March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day), thanks to tenacious advocacy by labor unions and workers’ right advocates, both houses of the State Legislature passed a historic minimum wage increase for California workers that the Governor… Read More

Big Victory for Misclassified Port Drivers

March 14, 2016 by

The Teamsters have struck a major victory in their campaign to organize port drivers.  The California Labor Commissioner’s office has ordered Pacific 9 Transportation to compensate 38 employee drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors. … Read More

“A crisis from which we bleed” –Martin Luther King, labor and wealth inequality

January 18, 2016 by

Throughout his life Dr. King recognized the dangers of economic inequality, both because its sting is disproportionately felt by African-Americans and as a barrier to democratic participation.  Dr. King was as concerned with wealth inequality… Read More

Blowing the Whistle at Work Grants Whistleblower Protection, Even if You’re Not Blowing the Whistle About Your Boss

October 14, 2015 by

Dental hygienist Rosa Lee Cardenas received an expensive new wedding ring from her husband to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  Rosa Lee lost her wedding ring at work, under circumstances that led her to suspect… Read More

LAPD Can’t Impose Training Costs on Cops

September 28, 2015 by

California Labor Code Section 2802 prohibits employers from imposing on employees expenses employees incur on the job, and Section 2804 voids employment contacts that contravene Section 2802.  This didn’t stop the City of Los Angeles… Read More

NLRB Protects Class-Action Filers from Retaliation

August 31, 2015 by

A non-union employee files a class action lawsuit against his employer on behalf of himself and his co-workers claiming wage and hour violations.  The employer retaliates by firing the employee.  Is there any legal protection… Read More

California Legislature Passes Bill Protecting Employees’ Access to the Courts, Now on Governor’s Desk

August 26, 2015 by

Both houses of the California legislature have passed AB-465, which would expand the types of contracts that are void and unenforceable under a new section 925 of the Labor Code.  AB-465 would void agreements between… Read More

Rah Rah! California Recognizes Pro Cheerleaders Are Employees

August 24, 2015 by

Governor Brown has signed a bill passed by the California legislature mandating that cheerleaders performing for California-based professional sports teams be employed as employees, not as independent contractors.  The bill affirms that cheerleaders are employees… Read More