State Employment Law Articles

Gridley, California-based natural food company Mary’s Gone Crackers Inc. agreed and consented to payment of $1.5 million and establishment of a corporate compliance program under a non-prosecution agreement reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California on July 19, 20

In the first decision to reach the Nevada Supreme Court on whether state district courts may modify or “blue pencil” non-competition agreements, the high court has concluded that doing so would violate Nevada law. Golden Road Motor Inn Inc. d/b/a Atlantis Casino Resort Spa v. Islam, 132 Nev. Adv. Op

On July 20, 2016, California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) issued a press release stating DIR enforcement of a contractor and subcontractor’s requirement to submit certified payroll records(“CPRs”) using DIR’s online system will resume on August 1. DIR clarified that the requirement to

We previously reported on Governor Brown’s 2016/2017 budget change proposal as something employers should monitor.[1] The proposal included increased funding for the Labor & Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”), the agency responsible for overseeing the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”

Nearly all California employment wage and hour class action lawsuits assert a cause of action under California Labor Code Section 226 as plaintiffs’ attorneys almost always automatically include such cause of action when there are other alleged underlying wage violations, i.e. failure to pay overtim

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently signed a bill amending the New York City Displaced Building Service Workers Protection Act (“the Displaced Workers Act” or “the Act”), first enacted by the City Council in 2002. As originally adopted, the Act required one building service contractor taking over another

On July 11, 2016, the results of San Diego’s June election were certified, meaning that the minimum wage and paid sick leave ordinance that was approved by San Diego voters on the June ballot officially took effect on Monday. Our prior post on this new ordinance is here. If you are not already in co

On July 1, 2016, the Philadelphia Wage Theft Ordinance went into effect. The Ordinance creates a new avenue for complaints alleging nonpayment of wages or “wage theft,” and the position of “Wage Theft Coordinator” to facilitate enforcement.

On June 27, 2016, SB 836, a 96-page budget trailer bill, was signed into law. Sections 189-191 of this bill amend California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) (Labor Code sections 2699 et seq.) effective immediately. The changes are as follows:

Executive Summary: In City of Petaluma v. Superior Court (Andrea Waters), the California Court of Appeal recently held that outside counsel's fact investigation of an employee's harassment and discrimination claims conducted prior to litigation was protected by the attorney-client privilege and work

Effective July 7, 2016, a new City of Philadelphia ordinance will restrict the use of credit checks and credit-related information. With certain exemptions, the ordinance prohibits covered employers in Philadelphia from discriminating against job applicants and employees because of negative credit h

The U.S. Senate has approved the controversial “Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act” (“PROMESA”), H.R. 5278, which will establish an Oversight Board to assist the Government of Puerto Rico in managing its public finances and for other purposes. The Senate acted on June 29,

Effective this Friday, July 1, 2016, employers with 26 of more employees, must pay employees who perform at least two hours of work within the geographic boundaries of the City of Los Angeles within a particular week at least $10.50 for each hour worked.

Carolina farmers must constantly deal with changing weather and markets. Add one more challenge: labor unions. Recently, labor unions have actively targeted certain agribusinesses in the Carolinas.

Encouraging government whistleblowers, an amendment to Colorado law bars disciplinary actions against state employees who reveal confidential information while reporting instances of waste, mismanagement of public funds, abuses of authority, or illegal and unethical practices to a designated “whistl

Effective this Friday, July 1, 2016, employees working at least two hours in a workweek in the City of San Francisco must be paid at least $13.00 for each hour worked. The new $13 hourly rate is an increase from $12.25 per hour.

Today, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas issued a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking the Department of Labor's ("DOL") implementation and enforcement of its Persuader Rule, which was scheduled to begin applying to agreements for labor consulting and advice work on July 1, 201

In California, signatures are being gathered in support of the “Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Initiative.” The initiative is likely to qualify for the November 2016 ballot and, if passed by the voters, could legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. In this podcast

Beginning January 1, 2017, employees in Colorado will now have a right to inspect and copy their personnel files. Prior to this law, Colorado had no law granting private-sector employees access to their personnel records.

The New Jersey Supreme Court recently overturned the longstanding policy of permitting employers and employees to agree to a shortened timeframe for an employee to file a discrimination suit under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). The case, Rodriguez v. Raymours Furniture Co., concern