It stands to reason that employers may not want employees recording conversations in the workplace. Recording conversations could discourage the free flow of open ideas. The recordings could also contain confidential or sensitive information that the employer does not want floating around the digital universe. In some states, recording workplace conversations may even be illegal… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Employee Privacy Rights
Subscribe to Employee Privacy Rights RSS FeedRecent NLRB Decisions On Email And Protected Activities
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and AgreementsA recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision affirmed the Board’s position on employer email policies under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In Purple Communications, Inc. and Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO the Board held that employees who may use their employer’s email system for work-related communications have the right to send off-the-clock email… Continue Reading
Employers May Be Liable For Violence Away From Work
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationIntentional torts committed by employees are difficult for employers to both anticipate and protect against. When an employee commits a criminal act against another employee or a third party, the law generally considers whether the employer knew or should have known that the employee posed a danger in deciding whether a duty to protect against… Continue Reading
Neutral Solutions: Workplace Investigations
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationThe Neutral Solutions Team at Weintraub Tobin specializes in conducting independent investigations into complaints of misconduct in the workplace. At Weintraub Tobin, we take pride in the top-notch investigations conducted by our experienced group of attorney-investigators. Our attorneys have conducted hundreds of investigations for private companies, for-profit companies, non-profit companies, cities, counties, and state agencies,… Continue Reading
EEOC Harassment Guidance Receives Much-Needed Update
Posted in Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Harassment, New Legislation and RegulationsThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently reported that between fiscal years 2012 and 2015, private sector charges of harassment increased to account for 30% of all charges of discrimination received by the EEOC. These numbers indicate that harassment liability and prevention continue to be important. The EEOC’s most recent guidance on harassment focused primarily… Continue Reading
“From Hiring to Firing” – The Life Span of the Employment Relationship
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Reductions in Force, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationDate: February 23, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Summary of Program The Labor and Employment Group at Weintraub Tobin is pleased to offer this informative seminar that will discuss applicable laws and best practices to help business owners, human resource professionals, and managers avoid liability when they hire, discipline, and terminate employees. Program… Continue Reading
Emotional Distress Damages Allowed Under FLSA
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationCount the Fifth Circuit among the latest to allow emotional distress damages to employees who successfully sue for retaliation under the Fair Labor Standards Act. In a December 19, 2016 opinion, the Fifth Circuit held that the district court should have allowed the jury to receive an instruction on emotional distress damages when it was… Continue Reading
New Year, New Laws
Posted in Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Wage & HourHappy New Year! The new year frequently marks new changes in the law, and this year is no exception. There are several important changes that went into effect on January 1st. Here are some of the major changes that went into effect on January 1, 2017: Minimum Wage Change: On January 1st, for employers with… Continue Reading
Neutral Solutions: We Help You Connect The Pieces
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and RegulationsThe Neutral Solutions Team at Weintraub Tobin specializes in training supervisors on various workplace issues, including preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; workplace health and safety; and managing leave laws. For more information, please visit our Trainings page here.
Arizona’s New Independent Contractor Declaration Law
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and RegulationsOn August 6, 2016, the Arizona State Legislature enacted the “Declaration of Independent Business Status” law (“DIBS”). The DIBS added Chapter 10 to Title 23 of the Arizona Revised Statutes (Arizona’s “Labor” statute). In short, DIBS allows certain Arizona companies (referred to in the statute as an “employing unit”) to obtain a declaration from those… Continue Reading
Top Reasons to Mediate Employment Disputes
Posted in Disability Discrimination, Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, FMLA and Other Leaves of Absence, Harassment, Reductions in Force, Retaliation and Wrongful Termination, Trade Secrets and Competition, Wage & HourAs an employment attorney and mediator, I believe mediation is a good alternative to protracted employment litigation. Below are the top reasons why. 1. Mediation is a Voluntary Process. Unlike litigation in which federal and state laws and court rules mandate the process (and often the outcome), mediation is a voluntary process. Thus, the parties… Continue Reading
Now Available! Weintraub Tobin’s 2017 Labor and Employment Seminar and Training Schedule
Posted in Disability Discrimination, Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, FMLA and Other Leaves of Absence, Harassment, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Reductions in Force, Retaliation and Wrongful Termination, Trade Secrets and Competition, Wage & HourWeintraub Tobin’s 2016 Labor and Employment Seminar and Training schedule is now available. Click here for a copy of the schedule. If you have any questions on any of our seminars or would like to inquire on private, custom-tailored training, please contact: Ramona Carrillo 400 Capitol Mall, 11th Fl. Sacramento, CA 95814 916.558.6046 rcarrillo@weintraub.com
White House Calls for Restrictions to Curb Non-Compete Agreements
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Trade Secrets and Competition, Wage & HourThe White House has issued new information about its policy position on non-competes, including a call to action from President Obama to state and federal lawmakers to curb and limit non-compete agreements. To read the Fact Sheet, please click here.
Texas Federal Court Permanently Blocks Persuader Rule
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, New Legislation and Regulations, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationAs previously reported here, earlier this year a federal district court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Labor (“DOL”) from enforcing the new Persuader Rule, which was to go into effect as of July 1, 2016. Last week, the court issued a ruling converting its preliminary injunction into a permanent one,… Continue Reading
New Marijuana Laws And The Workplace
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Retaliation and Wrongful TerminationLast week, voters in seven states passed new laws relating to marijuana use, both recreational and medical, which has left many employers wondering what this means to them. Can employers still enforce “zero tolerance” drug use policies? Do they have to allow employees to use marijuana in the workplace or during work hours, if they… Continue Reading
Mandatory AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Posted in Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Harassment, Labor Law, New Legislation and RegulationsSummary of Program The regulations regarding California’s Mandatory Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for supervisors require that certain employers provide training to their supervisors every two years. The Labor and Employment Group at Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin is offering a two hour in-person training session that will comply with all the requirements outlined in the… Continue Reading
University Student Assistants Are Employees Under NLRA
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor LawOn August 23, 2016, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision in The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and Graduate Workers of Columbia-GWC, UAW. The NLRB decided that graduate and undergraduate student assistants are common law “employees” within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The… Continue Reading
Illinois’ “Child Bereavement Leave Act”
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor LawOn July 29, 2016, the Illinois General Assembly adopted SB 2613 – the Child Bereavement Leave Act (“Act”) which provides eligible employees with the right to take bereavement leave for the death of a child. The law went into effect immediately. Covered Employers. The Act defines covered employers the same way the federal Family and Medical… Continue Reading
NLRB Revises Back Pay Formula
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Wage & HourIn a 3-1 ruling, the National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) recently revised its back pay formula and radically departed from its traditional remedy for compensating employees who have been unlawfully terminated. The Board’s ruling now supports employees’ rights to recover search-for-work and interim employment expenses, regardless of whether the employees have interim earnings and regardless… Continue Reading
Beware – Reporting Wage & Hour Violations Just Got Easier
Posted in Disability Discrimination, Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Harassment, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Retaliation and Wrongful Termination, Wage & HourThe California Labor Commissioner Launches New On-Line Reporting System On August 31st, the Department of Industrial Relations (Labor Commissioner) launched an online system allowing anyone to report a business’ alleged labor law violations. According to the Labor Commissioner’s Press Release, the new online reporting system is simple to use and enables the Labor Commissioner to… Continue Reading
The EEOC’s Final Rules On Employer Wellness Programs
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and AgreementsThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently issued two final rules confirming that employers can offer limited incentives (in the form of a reward or avoidance of a penalty) to encourage employees and their spouses to participate in workplace wellness programs. Under these new rules, employers who offer wellness programs will be allowed to… Continue Reading
DOL Issued Updated Employment Law Posters – Be Sure You Post Them In Your Workplace
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, FMLA and Other Leaves of Absence, Labor Law, New Legislation and RegulationsIn July 2016, the federal Department of Labor (DOL) updated two posters that employers are required to post in the workplace. The “Employee Rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act” poster; and The “Employee Rights – Employee Polygraph Protection Act” poster. According to the DOL, every employer subject to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act… Continue Reading
Oh Sh–! The Government is Knocking at Your Door
Posted in Discrimination, Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, FMLA and Other Leaves of Absence, Harassment, Labor Law, New Legislation and Regulations, Retaliation and Wrongful Termination, Wage & HourSummary of Program There is no universal way to prepare for a governmental audit, investigation or inspection. The employment laws governing your workplace have different compliance requirements and governmental agencies have different agendas and degrees of power. This seminar will include tips on whether, and how to, conduct a self audit; understanding the do’s and… Continue Reading
Our Neutral Solutions Team Specializes In Trainings, Mediation, and Workplace Investigations
Posted in Employee Privacy Rights, Employment Contracts and Agreements, FMLA and Other Leaves of Absence, Labor Law, Wage & HourThe Neutral Solutions Team at Weintraub Tobin can help you avoid expensive and protracted litigation. We specialize in: Training supervisors on various workplace issues, including preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; workplace health and safety; and managing leave laws. Conducting independent investigations into complaints of misconduct in the workplace. Mediating employment disputes both pre and… Continue Reading
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