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California

Employment Lawyer Network:
California

Joseph L. Beachboard (Editor)

California Employment Law

Joe.Beachboard@OgletreeDeakins.com
(213) 239-9800

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Joseph L. Beachboard is a nationally recognized expert on employment law issues who speaks regularly at SHRM and other HR events. He also is a regular contributor to several national and California publications. In 2000, Mr. Beachboard sold The Labor Letters, Inc., a publisher of monthly employment law journals that he founded to advise human resource professionals. He is a founding member and executive director of the Management Employment Law Roundtable, a national, invitation only, organization of management labor and employment lawyers.

Workers can be on-call during rest periods

03/23/2015

Under California law, employees must receive a rest break for every four hours worked and employers may not require employees to work during their breaks. But what about employees who are allowed to take breaks and do what they wish during that time but still have to respond to calls if necessary? In a recent case, security guards asked that question because they had to carry their radios during breaks in case they were suddenly needed.

Trouble looms when rookie replaces old pro

03/23/2015
Here’s a warning for new supervisors who want to replace long-term employees with individuals of their own choosing: They could be courting a discrimination lawsuit if the replacements belong to a different protected class and aren’t as qualified as those being replaced.

New California laws close loopholes, address labor contractor issues

03/21/2015
A flurry of bills signed at the end of the 2014 legislative session attempted to clarify liability in cases of joint employment.

What’s the current mileage reimbursement rate?

02/24/2015
Q. Some of my construction employees must drive their personal cars to and from various work sites during work hours. Am I required to reimburse these employees for the miles they drive during this travel? If so, what is the amount per mile?

California Supreme Court rules on pay for on-call and sleep time

02/24/2015
The California Supreme Court has held that the on-call hours for security guards who work 24-hour shifts constituted compensable hours worked. The court also ruled that the guards’ employer could not exclude “sleep time” from the guards’ 24-hour shifts.

Bill would turn pro cheerleaders into employees

02/24/2015
A bill before the General Assembly would require California’s professional sports teams to give cheerleaders full employment rights, including paying the minimum wage and overtime.

Federal judge strikes raises for home health workers

02/24/2015
One of President Obama’s attempts to stimulate the economy has been nixed by a federal court.

PAGA claims still alive after SCOTUS denies review

02/24/2015
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the California Supreme Court Decision in which the state’s highest court ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act preempted California’s policy against enforcement of class-action waivers on the grounds that they were contrary to public policy or unconscionable.

New California law requires pay for rest or recovery periods

02/24/2015
SB 1360, passed late in 2014, requires employers to pay employees for recovery periods taken during hot weather.

OK to ditch telegraph under new CalOSHA regulations

02/24/2015
The California state legislature made changes to both CalOSHA reporting requirements and fines for violations.