On top of the challenges in light of year two of the COVID pandemic, organizations will be faced with additional employment challenges in the coming year. This year Governor Newsom added and clarified existing employment laws that are either in effect now or will take effect on January 1, 2022. This article focuses on five new laws that may directly impact our clients.  Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with these new laws to protect your organization.

As nonprofits begin to open their operations and services to the community they serve, it is essential to review your volunteers’ risk management policies. Volunteers play a critical role in providing services to the community. It is up to your administration to ensure volunteers work in a safe environment. Part of your risk management practices […]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, organizations have managed to overhaul the way their operations were conducted. They have implemented changes required by federal, state, and local health guidelines to focus on employees and customer safety. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several vaccines, including Pfizer’s and Moderna, with distribution efforts seemingly problematic […]

The passage of AB 5 affected the way many organizations conducted their operations in California. In 2018, the California Supreme Court issued the landmark decision Dynamex Operations West, Inc., adopting the “ABC” test imposing tougher legal standards classifying workers as independent contractors. Several issues emerged from the Court’s decision leading the California Legislature to codify […]

Governor Newsom recently signed legislation expanding the California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”) goes into effect on January 1, 2021.  This new legislation will impact both small and large employers. Significantly, the new legislation will (1) include organizations with five or more employees, and (2) expands the definitions of covered family members. 1.   What is CFRA? […]

On September 17, Governor Newsom signed two COVID-19 related bills—SB 1159 and AB 685—into law. SB 1159 sets a rebuttable presumption standard establishing workers’ compensation coverage for employees who contract Covid-19. SB 1159 is an urgency bill that makes the bill effective immediately. AB 685 modifies occupational safety standards to requiring employers to notify and […]

As organizations begin to reopen their operations, organizations must learn how to conduct business safely for their customers, prospects, and employees. Organizations are faced with the daunting task of navigating through ever-evolving rules and regulations from federal, state, and local agencies. Before reopening, every organization should create and implement a safety plan with the goal […]

Are There Liability Exposures For Your Board of Directors in Connection with COVID-19? Government-ordered closures and restrictions on businesses’ operations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 create a variety of liability exposures for your organization. While the headlines have primarily focused on important issues such as workers’ compensation and business interruption, there has been an […]

Many organizations, for the first time, are learning how to operate their business with a remote workforce. COVID-19 has upended the operations of organizations by requiring employees to use their own devices, equipment, and utilities typical to perform their job duties. As a result, employees’ personal bills have increased, such as gas and electricity, an […]

“I Can’t Wear a Face-Mask, I have a Disability.” Yesterday, Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order requiring that a face covering must be worn in certain high-risk situations, including “[i]nside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space.”  This Order was issued after Orange County issued a requirement that rescinded the mask requirement. […]