Discrimination

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Last year, we reported on the reforms to the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) that Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on July 1, 2024.  The reform legislation was pushed through to avoid a ballot vote on a measure seeking to repeal PAGA entirely in the 2024 election.  The legislation was aimed at providing some relief to employers from the flood of meritless PAGA claims and provide mechanisms for early resolution.  The legislation also gave the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) the resources and ability to expedite hiring and to fill vacancies in the CA Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) which is the division responsible for PAGA administration and oversight. While the reforms did not appear deter the “serial filer” firms from filing a record number of cases (9,463 PAGA notices were filed in calendar year 2024 – a jump from 8,100 the prior year), we are extremely pleased to report that the LWDA and its new hires, have begun taking a much more active role in these cases at an early stage and cracking down on the worst abusers of the PAGA statutes.Continue Reading An Update on PAGA Reform from the Trenches – Finally, Some Relief for Employers from Meritless Claims

In a recent presentation titled Legal & Compliance 2025: Workplace Safety and CalOSHA Requirements, Weintraub shareholder Shauna Correia provided essential updates on California workplace safety laws. The session highlighted new regulations on indoor heat exposure, workplace violence prevention plans, COVID-19 measures, and other safety initiatives to protect employees and ensure compliance.Continue Reading Key Takeaways:  SHRM Legal and Compliance 2025 – Workplace Safety and CalOSHA Requirements

California expands employee rights for victims of violence: new leave policies and protections under AB 2499 take effect Jan 1. Weintraub attorneys Meagan Bainbridge and Shauna Correia discuss what employers need to know to update their policies in the latest installment of California Employment News.

Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel

In December 2023, the California Civil Rights Department (“CRD”) filed the first-of-its-kind lawsuit under the California Fair Chance Act (“Act”) against Ralphs Grocery Store (“Ralphs”) in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.Continue Reading First Lawsuit Under CA’s Fair Chance Act Filed Against Ralph’s Grocery Store: A Message for CA Employers to Comply

The use of AI in the workplace can help streamline many tasks, but it can also come with potential discrimination concerns for employers. Meagan Bainbridge and Lukas Clary review some of these concerns and share best practices for employers in this episode of California Employment News.Continue Reading California Employment News: The Use of A.I. in the Workplace – Discrimination Concerns (Part 2)