Indeed, the holiday shopping season is a few months away, but as the old adage goes “if you plan for the worst, you can expect the best.” In the case of retailers and other service businesses, the “worst” during the holidays should be a large influx of customers. With...
Wage & Hour Claims
The ACA will soon affect small businesses
For many businesses, December is a time to celebrate the holiday season. This usually is done by providing information about upcoming bonuses, settling work schedules to deal with holiday based vacations and preparing end of year tax documents. However, this coming...
New law makes professional cheerleaders employees in California
In a couple of seasons, when you are cheering on your favorite NFL team, the women leading the cheers will be guaranteed at least minimum wage -- if they work for a team in California. A bill signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on July 15 amends the law so that...
California rules that Uber drivers are employees, not contractors
On June 3, the California Labor Commission made a ruling that could ripple through the economy in a number of ways. In the case of a San Francisco-based Uber driver who was seeking about $4,000 in expense reimbursements, the commission ruled that the driver was...
California Senate quickly passes equal pay bill
Equal pay is an issue that has garnered national attention recently -- and for good reason. With evidence showing that men continue to out-earn women for the same work, change is necessary to ensure equality in the workplace. Although California already has a law in...
Certain workers remain at high risk for wage discrimination
Virtually every American worker is at risk for some sort of wage discrimination. However, some workers are statistically more likely to suffer this kind of illegal treatment than others. Unfortunately, many of those who are most likely to be taken advantage of are...
The pros and cons of hiring a friend to represent you
We frequently discuss the various kinds of illegal mistreatment that Americans often suffer in the workplace. If you have experienced discriminatory treatment, sexual harassment or mistreatment related to hours and compensation, you may be thinking about hiring an...
California employment law: the wage and hour claim process
Many people in California are aware of the state's wage and hour laws. Not being compensated in full for the work that you've done or doing work without being paid at all are illegal. If they happen to you, you can file a claim against your employer to receive the...
Preparing for holiday-related employment challenges
‘Tis the season to hire workers for the holiday and winter seasons. It is also time to prepare part-time and full-time workers for challenges unique to the holiday season. From an employment law standpoint, both employers and employees can benefit from understanding...
The influx of seasonal employees puts stress on HR departments
It can be hectic during the holidays. Most industries -- from retailers, to cell phone providers, to production factories -- will likely see a significant upturn in orders and customer traffic. In the coming months, retailers will be adding numerous employees to help...