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California

Top companies offer domestic-partner benefits

03/20/2009

According to a recent report, 286 of Fortune 500 companies provide equal benefits to same-sex couples. What’s more, the better the company performs, the more likely it is to offer benefits that serve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers.

Study reports effects of state nurse staffing ratios

03/20/2009

The nonprofit California HealthCare Foundation (CHF) has concluded that California’s minimum nurse-to-patient requirement has had little direct effect on the quality of care. The goal of the minimum staffing ratios, implemented in 2004, was the improvement of patient outcomes.

Lawyer fired for appraisal sues for wrongful discharge

03/20/2009

A former lawyer at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP has filed a lawsuit against the law firm for terminating his employment after he wrote a performance evaluation that criticized another associate and partner.

L.A. car washes charged with wage abuse, union busting

03/20/2009

On Feb. 9, the state of California filed a criminal complaint accusing four Los Angeles car washes, their owners and one manager of wage-and-hour law violations and for creating “a work environment that bordered on indentured servitude.”

What should we do in light of California’s new no-texting-while-driving law?

03/20/2009

Q. How does the new California law making it illegal to send and read text messages while driving affect employers?

What happens to accrued PTO leave when an employee separates?

03/20/2009

Q. Our company is considering replacing sick leave and vacation benefits with a paid time off (PTO) program. How are these plans treated upon the termination or resignation of an employee?

Can I fire this employee? His volunteer firefighting makes him miss too much work

03/20/2009

Q. I have an employee who is a volunteer firefighter. Although I believe that volunteering is important, his absences to respond to emergencies have disrupted workplace productivity. Can I replace him because of the problems his service causes?

Stacks of résumés are no excuse for sloppy hiring practices

03/06/2009

Despite the daily economic lamentations, some employers are still hiring. Those employers may think they are in the catbird seat because they may have hundreds of applicants for each position. But a bonanza of applicants is no excuse for shoddy hiring practices. You must make sure they comply with state and federal laws.

Double duty: Regulating moonlighting and following the law

03/03/2009

As the economy heads south, many of your employees have probably considered—or already found—second jobs to supplement their incomes. Most of the time, moonlighting poses no conflict with your organization’s work. But an employee’s second job could lower productivity and morale. It could create liability for you.

Beware firing after worker warns about safety

02/24/2009

Former employees and their lawyers are always looking for ways to maximize what they can get from former employers. One way is to add a wrongful discharge claim if an employee is fired after he or she complains about workplace safety. These cases can get quite expensive, as the following case shows.