Legal News and Updates
Jingle All the Way (To Superior Court) – Avoiding Holiday Party Woes
Somehow it seems that every year a deluge of claims materialize in January stemming from holiday parties gone awry. While throwing an annual holiday party can be a good way to boost employee morale and show appreciation for your staff’s hard work, it can also put your...
New Employment Laws 2025
With the end of the year approaching, we hope you have a wonderful upcoming holiday season and wish you a happy and healthy 2025. As the new year begins, employers should be prepared by staying informed about the various new laws taking effect in 2025. Download a PDF...
California’s new rules for hiring freelancers
California's landscape for hiring freelance workers is changing. With the introduction of Senate Bill No. 988, also known as the Freelance Worker Protection Act, employers will have new requirements when engaging with freelancers. If you usually hire freelance...
California Expands Existing Protections for Employee Victims of Crime
On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (AB) 2499, which expands workplace protections for employee victims of crimes or abuse. The new law takes effect January 1, 2025. New Terminology and Enforcement California currently prohibits...
Compliance Alert: New Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Regulations
Cooler weather does not mean goodbye to heat illness concerns for employers. With the state’s unprecedented breaking temperatures in recent years, the California Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has adopted regulations on heat illness prevention in indoor...
California Supreme Court Says One Racial Slur Can Give Rise to Employer Liability for Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation
In Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the California Supreme Court ruled that a single use of a racial slur may be actionable harassment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act if it is sufficiently severe under the totality of the...
Employer Compliance Alert! Minimum Wage Increase Effective July 1, 2024 for California Cities and Counties
Beginning July 1, 2024, the minimum wage in the following cities and counties has increased as shown below due to local ordinances These minimum wage increases apply not only to hourly workers, but also to exempt employees, who must be paid at least twice the minimum...
PAGA Reform is Here! Here’s What Employers Need to Know
On July 1, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2288 and Senate Bill 92 into law, providing the most substantive changes to the Private Attorney General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”) in its 20-year history. AB 2288 amends Labor Code section 2699, while SB 92 amends Labor...
Duggan McHugh Team Selected as Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2024!
Congratulations to Jennifer Duggan, Laura McHugh, Christina Bucci Hamilton, and Katie Collins, who were recently selected for both Sactown Magazine’s list of Top Lawyers in Sacramento and the 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. We are especially...
Good News for Employers – Agreement Reached on PAGA Reform
On June 18, 2024, Governor Newsom and legislative leaders announced an agreement on PAGA reform. An overview of the reform can be found here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/06/18/governor-newsom-legislative-leaders-announce-agreement-on-paga-reform/. The overview of the...