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California

Los Angeles region expected to be hard hit by job losses

02/24/2009

A forecast by the U.S. Conference of Mayors says the Los Angeles area will suffer some of the largest job losses in the nation in 2009. It’s expected to lose about 164,000 jobs this year …

Cal State Fresno settles coach’s bias claim for $5.2 million

02/24/2009

California State University Fresno has settled a suit brought by a female former volleyball coach who accused the school of sex discrimination. The settlement was reached 18 months after a California Superior Court jury returned a $5.85 million verdict in the favor of Lindy Vivas …

Retaliation ruling could cost Contra Costa County $1 million

02/24/2009

A government employee has won a jury trial against Contra Costa County, and the verdict may cost the county more than $1 million.

15 California firms make Fortune ‘best to work for’ list

02/24/2009

Fifteen companies headquartered in California have made the 2009 Fortune magazine “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. Why did so many California companies make the list? Great benefits seem to be the reason.

Reality TV employees settle wage-and-hour disputes

02/24/2009

Workers who alleged they had to endure marathon schedules while working on reality television shows such as “Trading Spouses” and “The Bachelor” have agreed to settle their lawsuits …

Rules for tough times: California’s Baby WARN Act and layoffs

02/24/2009

The downturn has hit California hard. Many stable California employers find themselves for the first time contemplating reductions in force in order to survive. If you’re considering a large-scale layoff, be prepared to familiarize yourself with California’s version of the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act.

What should we do about a disgruntled worker who disparages us on the web?

02/24/2009

Q. One of my employees has created his own web site. Recently, he has been posting negative comments about our company. Specifically, he has accused the company of failing to provide adequate benefits and paying below-market wages. Can we fire the worker for this conduct?

Should we offer reasonable accommodations even if our employee hasn’t asked?

02/24/2009

Q. One of our employees is experiencing performance-related problems that I believe are attributable to a mental disability. However, the worker has not notified the company that he suffers from an impairment that may be a covered “disability” under state or federal laws. Nor has he asked for any accommodations. Should we nonetheless offer to reasonably accommodate this employee?

Can we hire only ‘careful’ workers to reduce our workers’ comp costs?

02/24/2009

Q. Several recent hires have suffered work-related injuries shortly after beginning their employment. As a result, our workers’ compensation premiums have soared. The company’s CEO, in an effort to avoid this problem, has directed that only “careful” workers be hired in the future. Is this legal?

New economic stimulus law includes HR-related provisions

02/24/2009

The economic recovery and stimulus bill President Obama signed Feb. 17 features several provisions affecting HR. Most require federal agencies to write new administrative rules, so it’s difficult to predict now exactly how they will work on an everyday basis. Here are some key provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.