Blog: The California Workplace Advisor

We all know immigration enforcement is a top priority for the new Trump administration. What does this mean for employers and for colleges and universities? I-9 audits will skyrocket. ICE worksite enforcement actions will escalate. Schools, medical facilities, churches and courthouses no longer are protected from immigration enforcement. Work authorization may end abruptly, through no…

Last week, the Trump administration introduced a series of executive orders aimed at reducing the scope of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) initiatives within federal agencies and among private employers working with the government. These new orders focus on curtailing programs that the administration believes may lead to reverse discrimination or violate principles of merit-based…

In a dramatic expansion of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Act (“EFAA”), two recent California Court of Appeal decisions have held that plaintiffs can avoid being compelled to arbitration so long as their lawsuit contains at least an allegation of sexual assault or harassment. Background In the wake of the…

In a dramatic victory for employers, California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is expected to be reformed this week. The reform, expected to be signed into law this week, has the potential to severely limit employers’ exposure so long as they take “reasonable steps” to address Labor Code issues proactively. This reform has the potential…

Last week, the California Supreme Court issued a highly anticipated decision in Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc., finding that trial courts cannot strike claims under the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) due to concerns about their “manageability.” Since PAGA was enacted twenty years ago, there has been a massive surge in lawsuits…