Legal updates

Charitable Organizations and Nonprofits depend on volunteers. In California, the line between a “volunteer” and an “employee” can get blurred. Spilman v. The Salvation Army provides detailed guidance on when a nonprofit’s volunteers will be treated as employees under...

Welcome to 2026! Each year the California legislature enacts new laws that impact California workplaces. Below is a quick summary of new laws and updates for 2026 that every employer should know. AB 406 Employees can take crime victim’s leave for judicial proceedings....

What Are the Chances of A Jury Awarding Punitive Damages in Employment Law Cases? The number of employment law cases filed in California courts each year is substantial, but only a small fraction go on to jury trial, and fewer still result in large punitive damages...

Is Paid Sick Leave Limited to the Days and Hours an Employee is Regularly Scheduled to Work? California’s paid sick leave law addresses accrual rates for both full-time and part-time employees, but there is no definitive statutory or case law answer to the specific...

What Should Employers Do When Payday Falls on a Weekend or a Holiday? Navigating wage payment timing in California can be tricky—especially when a scheduled payday falls on a weekend or a holiday. For years, employers and employees have looked to the Division of Labor...

Reducing Salaries When Exempt Employees are on FMLA or CFRA Leave Employers often ask whether they may reduce the salary of an exempt employee who takes time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). As we’ve learned...

California Paid Sick Leave and Wage Statement Compliance Can I provide electronic records regarding paid sick leave accruals and usage? California employers must navigate a complex web of wage statement and paid sick leave requirements under the Healthy Workplaces,...

Reducing Salaries When Exempt Employees are on FMLA or CFRA Leave Employers frequently ask whether they may reduce the salary of an exempt employee who takes time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). As we’ve...

Do I Have To Pay Exempt Employee Their Full Salaries If They Are Sick? Almost two decades ago I wrote an article about proper and improper deductions from salaries of exempt employees. Although time has passed, I still get the same question: “When can I deduct money...

Ten Essential Elements for an Employer’s Bonus Plan Bonus plans can be a great way to incentivize employee work performance. They can also create problems if not set up correctly. When structuring an employer’s bonus plan it is critical to ensure the plan is clear,...

Written by Daniel Booth - Edited by Robert Nuddleman Brian Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Development Corp. offers a warning about the growing risk of wire fraud in legal settlements. Thomas sued Corbyn for injuries sustained in a workplace altercation. The parties...

Overview of the Interactive Process for Disability Accommodations Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. An integral part of providing accommodations is the “interactive process.” The interactive process is...