The city of Los Angeles recently passed the Los Angeles Fair Work Week Ordinance, which largely stemmed from the findings as to unpredictability of work schedules in the retail industry. Specifically, it was determined that approximately “77 percent of retail workers receive less than one week notice of their schedules or changes to their schedules” and that such unpredictability created extensive socioeconomic burdens on workers of large retail businesses. The Ordinance can be found here.

Continue Reading Fair Workweeks for Retail Workers in Los Angeles

Employee personnel files are an important aspect of any employer’s records. Meagan Bainbridge and Nikki Mahmoudi review the basics of employee personnel files, including what should and should not be included and handling inspection requests, in this episode of California Employment News.

Continue Reading California Employment News: Understanding the Basics of Employee Personnel Files

Section 7(a) of the NLRA Applies to More Than Just CBA Employees

In general, Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”) provides employees nationwide with certain rights relating to organizing with other employees and collective bargaining, whether or not they are subject to collective bargaining agreements (“CBAs”). These rights include the right to self-organize; join or assist labor organizations; cooperate in NLRB investigations; and engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, including criticizing employer policies and discussing severance, wages and other terms and conditions of employment with co-workers and former co-workers.

Continue Reading Impact of the NLRB’s McLaren Macomb Decision on Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Provisions in Severance Agreements

That’s right, you read it correctly, another 300 years!  The United Nations Secretary General told the Commission on the Status of Women on March 7, 2023, that gender equality is “300 years away.” The statement was based on statistics from UN Women, an organization dedicated to the study of the status of women and girls around the world, and the advancement of gender equality and empowerment of women. According to UN Women, girls and women represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. However, statistics show that there is a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women.

Continue Reading Happy International Women’s Day – Now Wait Another 300 Years for Equality! <em>Wait, What?</em>

On February 22, 2023, the United States Supreme Court released its ruling in Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. vs. Hewitt, clarifying that employees who are paid a daily rate likely do not qualify for the executive exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”).

Continue Reading Supreme Court Clarifies the “Salary Basis” Test Under the FLSA for Highly Compensated Executives