Legal News and Updates
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...
Compliance Alert: Most California Employers Must Adopt and Implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan by July 1, 2024
By July 1, 2024, nearly all California employers must adopt and implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP), provide the first round of annual training, and maintain an effective Violent Incident Log. The new law, SB 553, is codified as Labor Code section...
Finally, A Win for California Employers on Hotly Contested Issue of Inaccurate Wage Statement Penalties
Last week, the California Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc. (No. S279397, May 6, 2024) delivered a rare victory for California employers. The high court held that employers have a viable “good faith” defense to claims...
Religious Belief Accommodations: A Heavier Burden for Employers After the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Groff v. DeJoy
On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Groff v. DeJoy, 600 U.S. 447, 143 S. Ct. 2279, 216 L. Ed. 2d 1041 (2023). The decision represents a significant shift in religious accommodation law, including how employers are required to accommodate an...
The In’s N Out’s of California’s New Statewide Minimum Wage Increase for Fast Food Workers
What Employers Should Know About AB 1228 On September 28, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 1228, the Fast Food Restaurant Industry legislation, which increases the minimum wage for “fast food restaurant employees.” In addition, the legislation establishes a...
Empowering Expectant Employees: The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Paves the Way for Workplace Equality
What Employers Should Know About the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) is a federal civil rights law that went into effect June 27, 2023 and provides additional protections to employees affected by pregnancy or childbirth....
Do employment arbitration agreements apply to claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)?
Arbitration agreements are a staple in employment contracts. They select a clear, cost-effective forum for resolving employment disputes. Earlier this year, the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that employers can require employees to sign mandatory...