On June 30, 2017, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee signed the “Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance” (“Ordinance”), increasing protections for nursing mothers working in San Francisco. The Ordinance becomes effective January 1, 2018, and applies to anyone employed within the “geographic boundaries” of San Francisco.
Continue Reading San Francisco Passes “Lactation in the Workplace Ordinance”
Employer’s Enforcement of Its Call-In Policy Was Reasonable Vis-à-Vis a Disabled Employee
Employers frequently struggle with enforcement of call-in and job abandonment policies when there has been a lack of communication by a disabled employee. In Alejandro v. ST Micro Electronics (N.D. Cal.) 178 F.Supp.3d 850, the court offers a favorable ruling for employers seeking to enforce such a policy respective to a disabled employee who had been non-communicative about his whereabouts in violation of company policy.
A Primer on Substituting Paid Leave for Unpaid Disability Leave Under Federal and California Law
Among the many questions California employers face when navigating the ins and outs of various disability leave laws is under what circumstances an employee may choose or be required to utilize paid time off for an otherwise unpaid leave of absence. When dealing with these issues, it is important to consider some nuanced differences between
Both the City of San Diego and the State of California “Clarify” Their Sick Leave FAQs
As we recently reported regarding the City of Los Angeles, both the City of San Diego and the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (“DLSE”) have updated their “Frequently Asked Questions” (“FAQs”) related to the respective local and state sick leave requirements. Below are some of the more salient points from each.
The City of Los Angeles Quietly Updates Its Rules and FAQs Regarding the Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
The sick leave landscape is constantly evolving, and the City of Los Angeles is no exception to that rule. This past month the City of Los Angeles Office of Wage Standards (“OWS”) revised its rules and regulations (“Revised Rules”) as well the FAQs regarding its Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (the “Ordinance”). As reported on our website (click here), the City’s Ordinance originally was effective July 1, 2016. The OWS has now provided further clarification regarding several issues as detailed here:
What Am I Doing Wrong? Common FMLA Mistakes – the California Edition
“What did I do wrong” and “Am I doing this correctly?” are frequent questions from clients regarding FMLA administration. Employers with operations in California need to worry about both the FMLA and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). This is the next in our monthly series highlighting some of the more common mistakes employers can
California Adopts Broad Gender-Neutral Bathroom Rules–Signage Rules Expand Beyond ADA Concerns
Effective March 1, California’s Equal Restroom Access Act (ERAA) will require some single-occupancy restrooms to have signs indicating they are gender-neutral.
Which Restrooms Does the ERAA Cover in California?
The ERAA applies to all single-occupancy restrooms in businesses, government buildings, and places of public accommodation. “Single-occupancy” is defined as a “toilet facility with no more than one water closet and one urinal with a locking mechanism controlled by the user.”
What Does the ERAA Require?
In short, the ERAA requires single-occupancy restrooms to be identified as gender-neutral by signs. The signs must comply with Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
An Employee Fails to Return from Leave As Originally Scheduled—Has That Employee “Voluntarily Resigned”?
What are employers to do if an employee has not provided a doctor’s note to continue his or her leave and the initial end date for that leave has passed? When can employers deem such an employee to have “voluntarily resigned”? Leticia Bareno v. San Diego Community College District reminds employers that they must scrutinize what communications they have received from such employees about their leaves and their own attempts at follow-up before considering an employee to be, “voluntarily resigned.”
Are You Ready? City of Santa Monica’s Sick Leave Provisions Become Effective January 1, 2017
Are you sick of sick leave yet? Beginning on January 1, 2017, the new paid sick leave provisions under Santa Monica City’s recently adopted Minimum Wage and Sick Leave law will go into effect. Since our California Workplace Law Blog article first outlined key provisions of the law, the ordinance was amended later this
California Supreme Court Denies Review of Castro-Ramirez Decision — California Employers Must Consider Leave Accommodation for Employees Caring for Disabled Family Members
We previously reported that the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District held that an employer’s denial of accommodation to a nondisabled employee may serve as evidence of association discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Castro Ramirez v. Dependable Highway Express, Inc. (2016) 2 Cal. App. 5th 1028. In Castro