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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM FREE Lunchtime Teleconference

Location: Teleconference –

Dial 1-610-214-0100
Access Code: 341076#

Payment Details:
• Members: $0.00 in advance (By Sep 13) / $0.00 at the door

• Non-Members: $0.00 in advance (By Sep 13) / $0.00 at the door

The Topic:
Mutual Wage Agreements. Can You Contract Around Overtime Obligations?

Examining the new Arechiga v. Dolores Press, Inc. case – can California employers enter into mutual wage agreements with non-exempt employees that factor in overtime pay to their set compensation? Come hear Lizbeth (“Beth”) West, employment attorney and SEAC Board Chair, discuss this newest case and strategies (and potential pitfalls) of entering into agreements with non-exempt employees to avoid statutory overtime obligations. Get the lowdown on how to construct a “mutual wage agreement” before you tread on thin ice….

The Speaker(s):

Lizbeth ‘Beth’ West, Esq.

Speaker Background:
Lizbeth V. West, Esq. is a partner with Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Tobin & Tobin. Her practice focuses on counseling and training employers and management staff on employment issues such as hiring, disciplinary actions, privacy, terminations, lay-offs, employment policies and contracts, protection of trade secrets, wage and hour laws, leave laws, prevention of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and compliance with other state and federal employment laws. She also has extensive experience defending employers in various forms of employment-related litigation in state and federal court, and in administrative actions before a number of state and federal agencies.

Note: The speaker’s presentation is for informational purposes. Attendees should always consult with their legal counsel to determine how the information discussed during the meeting affects their particular circumstances.

Big news! Weintraub’s L&E Law Blog is one of the nominated candidates for the LexisNexis Top 25 Labor and Employment Law Blogs of 2011.

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By: Labor & Employment

On August 25, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (the “NLRB”) issued a new rule which requires all private-sector employers (including labor unions) subject to the National Labor Relations Act (the “Act”) to post a notice informing employees of their rights under the Act. The required notice will include information about employees’ rights to act together to improve wages and working conditions, to form, join, and assist a union, to bargain collectively with their employer, and to refrain from any of these activities. The final rule takes effect on November 14, 2011.

The notice must be at least 11 inches by 17 inches in size and posted in a conspicuous place where it can be readily seen by employees. In addition to the physical posting, the notice must be posted to any intranet or internet site maintained by the employer which contains other personnel rules and policies.

The NLRB will make an acceptable notice available starting on November 1, 2011. Employers can either download a free copy of the notice from the NLRB’s website or request a free copy by contacting the NLRB at its headquarters or its regional, sub-regional, or resident offices. Alternatively, employers can satisfy the rule by purchasing a set of workplace posters from a commercial supplier.

Continue Reading NLRB Issues New Employer Posting Requirements Effective November 14, 2011

By: Lizbeth V. West, Esq.

Last September, California’s previous governor (the “Governator;” oops I mean Governor Schwarzenegger) signed into law a new statutory leave entitlement for certain employees who are going to donate their bone marrow or an organ to another.

The law was codified in Labor Code section 1510 and provided that an employer must grant a paid leave of absence to an employee who is an organ donor or a bone marrow donor. The leave of absence to an organ donor is up to 30 days in a one-year period. The leave of absence for a bone marrow donor is up to 5 days in a one-year period. The leave of absence for either donor is not a break in his or her continuous service for the purpose of his or her right to salary adjustments, sick leave, vacation, annual leave, or seniority. As a condition of an employee’s initial receipt of the leave of absence, an employer may require the employee to take a specified number of days of earned but unused sick or vacation leave, unless that would violate provisions of an applicable collective bargaining agreement.

California’s current Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 272 on August 1, 2011 in order to clarify certain provisions in Labor Code section 1510.
Continue Reading Governor Brown Signed Bill To Amend Organ and Bone Marrow Donation Leave Law

By: Meagan D. Christiansen

The Third Appellate District for the California Court of Appeals recently issued a decision that provides hope for those employers who unknowingly hire undocumented workers throughout California. In Salas v. Sierra Chemical Co., the court used the after-acquired evidence and unclean hands doctrines to bar Salas’ Complaint, ruling that undocumented workers are not entitled to recourse on a wrongful failure to hire claim, where they misrepresent their lawful ability to work in the first place.

Relevant Facts:

Vicente Salas was a seasonal worker at Sierra Chemical, a swimming pool chemical business. In 2006, he injured his back while working. After returning to work for a short time on modified duty, he reinjured his back when he was re-assigned to his regular duties. Following this injury, he brought a workers’ compensation claim against the company. In December 2006, Salas was laid off as part of Sierra Chemical’s annual reduction. In 2007 Sierra Chemical contacted Salas, informing him that he could return to work, provided he could establish he had received a medical release. Salas could not produce such a release and was precluded from returning pursuant to Sierra Chemical’s policies.
Continue Reading The California Court of Appeals Limits the Remedies for Undocumented Workers