Recent Blog Posts
New California Bill Seeks to Ban Hair Discrimination in Workplace
Workplace discrimination can take many forms, from the overtly discriminatory to the more subtle. One area that has been gaining attention recently is actual or perceived discriminatory behavior based on appearance. More specifically, workplaces that mandate certain hairstyles of their employees have been accused of using neutral-sounding appearance requirements that in reality prohibit the… Read More »
California’s New Expanded Workplace Harassment Protection Law
California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) has established a series of prohibitions on employer conduct, making discrimination and harassment unlawful in a variety of situations. Senate Bill 1300, signed into law by Governor Brown on September 30, 2018, expands the protections of FEHA. The law went into effect on January 1, 2019. Below… Read More »
Court Dismisses San Francisco Lawsuit Against DOJ for Rescinding Discrimination Guidance
The Trump administration rescinded several guidance documents that set standards for evaluating compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as claims of discrimination on the basis of national origin. The City and County of San Francisco sued the Department of Justice (DOJ), alleging that the agency did not follow proper procedure… Read More »
Transgender Discrimination is Still Banned in California, Despite Federal Efforts
The rights of transgender people under federal law are in flux. The Trump administration is working to roll back transgender protections, including by seeking a narrow federal definition of “gender.” This would effectively eliminate federal civil rights protections in, for example, the education and employment contexts for Title IX and Title VII purposes, respectively…. Read More »
California Civil Rights Agency Reports Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims on the Rise
California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has spent the last several years strengthening protections for California employees and making it easier to file complaints and trigger official investigations. The efforts have resulted in a significant uptick in the number of complaints and lawsuits brought over the last few years. A recent report from… Read More »
California Legislature Passes Bills to Strengthen Workplace Breastfeeding Protections
A pair of bills recently passed by California’s legislature would strengthen protections for women breastfeeding in the workplace. The bills now await Governor Brown’s signature. Continue reading for details about the new laws, and contact a skilled California labor and employment lawyer with questions about how these laws could affect you or your organization…. Read More »
California Legislature Passes Bill Banning Employer Arbitration Agreements
The California Senate just passed a bill, AB 3080, that prohibits employers from requiring workers to enter into arbitration agreements as a condition of employment. AB 3080 now awaits Governor Brown’s signature. The bill, if signed, could affect millions of California workers: A recent study from the Economic Policy Institute found that over 67%… Read More »
California Governor Signs Law Barring Workers Accused of Harassment from Suing Employers and Accusers
Among the numerous bills addressing sexual harassment that came before the California State Legislature during the most recent session, one has recently been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. Read on to learn about the new law designed to protect those who accuse a worker of, or discuss accusations of, sexual harassment, and… Read More »
What is “National Origin” Discrimination?
New California Regulations Seek to Clarify Definitions and Workplace “English Only” Rules New regulations from the California Fair Employment & Housing Council clarify many aspects of employment discrimination related to national origin discrimination. While national origin discrimination is covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act at the Federal level and has long… Read More »
California Supreme Court Issues New Test for Determining if Worker is an Independent Contractor or Employee
In a decision that could have a massive impact on California workers and employers, the California Supreme Court has developed a new test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or employee, and thus whether that worker is entitled to protections under the Industrial Welfare Commission’s (IWC) wage orders. The new test,… Read More »
