Generally speaking, California law requires employers to reimburse employees for all necessary business expenses. Many employers require their employees to use their personal cell phones for work-related calls. What is an employer's reimbursement obligation when an...
Exclusively Employment Law
Month: August 2018
Every Minute Counts: Paying Employees for Off-the-Clock Work
Late last month, the California Supreme Court held that employers must pay non-exempt employees for off-the-clock work that occurs on a regular basis. In Troester v. Starbucks, Douglas Troester, a former Starbucks shift supervisor, alleged that Starbucks did not pay...
Failure to Pay Commission Payments under California Law
Revised in January 2024 For some employees, a significant part of their compensation consists of commission payments. However, the employee does not automatically receive these commission payments (simply by virtue of showing up for work, unlike a base salary)....
In the News: “The startup community has a problem.”
According to a recent Forbes magazine article entitled "Sexual Harassment and the 'Win at All Costs' Mentality of the Silicon Valley:" "Silicon Valley and, in truth, much of the startup world - particularly the tech sector - have been dealing with their dirty little...
Reporting Time Pay Under California Law
What is “reporting time pay?” Under California law, employers must pay “reporting time pay” to nonexempt employees in certain circumstances. Specifically, if a nonexempt employee is required to report to work (and he/she reports to work), but the nonexempt employee...
In the News: Forbes Magazine Discusses the ABC Test
In a recent article entitled "The End of an Era? How the ABC Test Could Affect Your Use of Independent Contractors," Forbes magazine discusses the ABC Test, which the California Supreme Court announced as law earlier this year in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v....
California’s Laws Regarding Written Commission Agreements
Originally Published on August 9, 2018; Updated/Revised on November 1, 2019 If you are an exempt or non-exempt employee who (a) performs services in California; and (b) is compensated on a commission basis, then California law requires your employer to provide you...
AARP Study: Age Discrimination in the Workplace
Last month, the AARP released a study entitled “The Value of Experience: AARP Multicultural Work & Jobs Study Chartbook for Total Respondents” (the “AARP Study”). The AARP Study is based on a survey of 3,900 individuals, who are age 45 and older, and who are...
On-Duty Meal Periods: The Working Lunch
Originally Published on August 8, 2018; Updated/Revised on July 23, 2019 In general, if you are a non-exempt employee and you work more than five hours and up to ten hours during a day, your employer must provide you with one unpaid, off-duty meal period that is 30...
California Clarifies Its Salary History Ban Law
As a result of recent California legislation, effective January 1, 2018, employers may not ask job applicants about their salary history (the “salary history ban law”). More specifically, an employer may not rely on an applicant’s salary history information in...