2025 California Employment Law Updates: Webinar Recap and Presentation Download
2025 is set to bring critical changes to California employment laws, and staying ahead of these updates is essential for employers and HR professionals alike. To help navigate these changes, I had the pleasure of teaming up with LeiLani E. Quiray and her amazing team at be the change HR, Inc. for an engaging and informative 2025 California Employment Law Update Webinar. If you missed the live session, you can still get up to date and: This session is packed with actionable insights to help you stay compliant, proactive, and stress-free as we head into 2025. Key Topics Covered in the Webinar Why These Updates Matter California employers operate under some of the most dynamic employment laws in the nation. Staying informed about legislative updates like these helps you avoid legal risks, streamline HR policies, and create a compliant, employee-friendly workplace. Whether you run a small business or oversee a large team, understanding these changes minimizes your risk of being blind-sided by an employment claim. Watch the Webinar Recording & Download the Presentation For a deeper dive into these topics, … Continue reading
Get Ready for 2025: California Employment Law Updates!
As we look ahead to 2025, California employers have a lot to keep in mind with upcoming changes in employment law. That’s why I’m teaming up with Be the Change HR, Inc. for a lively, informative legal update webinar. Whether you’re running a small business or managing a larger team, this session is all about keeping compliance simple, proactive, and stress-free. What’s in Store? California’s employment laws continue to evolve, and staying informed is key to building a compliant and thriving workplace. From new wage and hour regulations to emerging compliance requirements, we’ll cover critical updates, practical strategies, and clear next steps to prepare for the year ahead. Why Attend? Here’s what you’ll get from this interactive session: Whether you’re a business owner or team leader, this session will help turn compliance from chaos to calm! Grab a coffee, your questions, and join us to approach 2025 with a proactive, prepared mindset. Can’t wait to see you there! Subscribe to our newsletter * indicates required Email Address * First Name * I am: * A Business OwnerAn Attorney/AdvisorInterested in General … Continue reading
Don’t Let the Layoff Be the End of the Story: Negotiate Your Severance
Facing a layoff can be a challenging and uncertain time, but knowing how to negotiate your severance package can provide crucial support during your transition. For employees from companies like Cisco, Paramount, Stellantis, and others who are currently navigating layoffs, it is essential to understand some basics about severance pay and how you can advocate for yourself effectively. What is Severance Pay for Layoffs? Severance pay is a form of financial compensation given to employees who are laid off or terminated. Its purpose is to assist you during your job transition and to buy the company peace of mind that you will not sue for any potential issues related to your employment in the future. Typically, severance pay may include: Understanding the basics of severance pay is crucial. A great reference guide with tips to navigate a layoff, refer to Indeed’s guide. Is Negotiating a Severance Package Worth It? Absolutely. Negotiating your severance package is a key step in ensuring that you receive the support you need. Here’s why it matters: Many employees accept the initial severance offer without question, … Continue reading
Comparing the Big 3 Workplace Leave Laws – FMLA, CFRA, and PDL
Life happens, people fall ill or their family members get sick and they need to take leave from work. Sometime’s it’s for a joyous occasion like the birth or adoption of a baby. But even joyous occasions are stressful for employees when it interrupts their ability to work. When an employee has to take leave from work, employers are then concerned about getting coverage and worried about administering the leave in a legally compliant way. Here is a guide to help both employers and employees understand the workplace leave laws available to California workers. We will talk about the big 3 – Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), California Family Rights Act (CFRA), and California Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL). These laws offer essential protections but have distinct requirements and benefits. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) The FMLA is a federal law that applies to employers with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius. To qualify, employees must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours in the past year. FMLA provides up … Continue reading
2024 New California Employment Laws
Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash As we approach the end of the year, it is essential for businesses to review their operations and prepare for the changes that the coming year will bring. In January 2024, several new California Employment Laws will go into effect, impacting policies and budgets. This is a crucial time for employers to update their employee handbooks and hiring documents to ensure compliance with these new regulations. Minimum Paid Sick Leave Accrual Cap and Use Increases One of the significant changes in 2024 is the increase in the minimum paid sick leave accrual, cap, and use. The law is that employees must earn at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work. If your company uses an alternative method of paid sick leave accrual, such as front-loading, employers previously had to provide three days (24 hours) of paid sick leave. This requirement has now increased to five days (40 hours) that are available within the first 200 calendar days of employment. Employers may also cap the use of accrued paid sick … Continue reading
Rejection Therapy – 48 Days of Ridiculous Asks and How It Could Help You
Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash I heard about Jia Jiang’s Ted Talk called “What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection” and as one does, thought, “That sounds like fun! I’ll give it a try!” I recommend watching the Ted Talk but the premise is to get over the fear of rejection by making requests of strangers. It seems that the more ridiculous the better. But I found that the most difficult ones weren’t the outrageous requests, but ones that I had a lot of value judgment around. I embarked on this experiment called “Rejection Therapy” with 2 ground rules: I then posted about it in my Instagram stories each day in the hopes that it would inspire others to see the value of just asking. Yes, it was entertaining and from the response I got from friends and fans (oh yes, I have fans because fun fact, I was a Thai teen pop star in my last life) I knew it was also impactful. From the title of this post you can tell that I lasted 48 days, … Continue reading
Drafting an AI Policy for Small Businesses: Why It Matters and How to Get It Right
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash As artificial intelligence (AI), and more specifically, generative AI, increases in capability, use, and acceptance, it becomes increasingly vital for all businesses, even smaller businesses to establish an AI policy. It’s not just tech giants that need to concern themselves with the implications of AI; small businesses are equally accountable and have just as much to gain – or lose – from its potential. The Importance of an AI Policy in the Workplace As a small business owner, you might be tempted to ignore the role of AI in your operations. You might even question the necessity of an AI policy at all. But the reality is that AI has penetrated all facets of the business world and is not limited by size or sector. Whether it’s customer service chatbots, data analytics tools, or HR systems screening potential hires, AI is likely already embedded in your business processes. Then there are the tech savvy employees who may be using ChatGPT or Bard to draft a letter, create content, or make their work easier in … Continue reading
Disney Lawsuit and the California Equal Pay Act
Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash Female mid-managers at the Walt Disney Co. recently requested class certification in a lawsuit against Disney entitled LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit seek $150 million in damages on behalf of themselves and other female mid-managers who worked for the Walt Disney Co. throughout the United States. The lawsuit against Disney alleges that the company discriminated against women who worked for them in that “across all of its business segments and at all levels of the company, Disney routinely underpays its female employees, passes them over for promotion, piles on extra work without additional compensation, and does not supply sufficient support staff to allow women to succeed at their jobs.” This is a violation of California’s equal pay laws. At the heart of this and other discrimination lawsuits is whether an employer treats its female employees differently than their male counterparts. One of the plaintiffs in this case alleged that each of the six men holding the same title as her (“Manager, Product Development”) … Continue reading
2023 Employment Law Updates
Welcome to 2023. New Year, New You, New California Employment Laws! Here is a quick overview of the most significant new laws that went into effect on January 1, 2023. This is not an exhaustive list but one that will apply to most small to medium-sized business owners in California. PRACTICAL TIP: Make sure your documents reflect that you are implementing changes that are applicable to your business. For example, update your written notice to employees of the terms of their employment to reflect the new hourly rate if you have employees who make minimum wage. Update the language in your employee handbooks to reflect the ability to designate non-family members for CFRA and paid sick leave. PAY Minimum Wage Increases/Exempt Pay Increases The California state minimum wage in 2023 is now $15.50 per hour for all employees, regardless of the employer’s size. However, some cities and counties have even higher local minimum wage requirements. Employers should check the minimum wage requirements for all cities and counties where their employees work. Some cities with higher minimum wage requirements include Los … Continue reading
New Notice Requirements for California Warehouse Distribution Centers
Photo by Ryan Parker on Unsplash California’s AB 701 Amends section 138.7 and adds a new part to the Labor Code to specifically address Warehouse Distribution Centers. Which Employers Will be Affected by the New Law? Any company that employs (directly or through third parties and agencies): 100 or more nonexempt warehouse distribution workers at a single warehouse distribution center; OR 1,000 or more employees at one or more warehouse distribution centers in the state of California. New Notice Requirement Beginning January 1, 2022, Certain employers will need to provide non-exempt employees with a written description of each quota the employee is subject to. What must be in this notice? The quantified number of tasks to be performed by the employee, or materials to be produced or handled. The time period tasks must be performed or materials must be produced in. The adverse employment action that could result if the employee does not meet the quota. When must subject employers give the notice to warehouse distribution center employees? At the time of hire; or By January 31, 2022. New Employee … Continue reading