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In California, the Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders require that employers must authorize and permit nonexempt employees to take a rest period that must, insofar as practicable, be taken in the middle of each work period. The rest period is based on the total hours worked daily and must be at the minimum rate of…

In California, the general overtime provisions are that a nonexempt employee 18 years of age or older, or any minor employee 16 or 17 years of age who is not required by law to attend school and is not otherwise prohibited by law from engaging in the subject work, shall not be employed more than…

It is the public policy of the State of California to encourage employees to notify an appropriate government or law enforcement agency, person with authority over the employee, or another employee with authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, and to provide information to and testify before a public body conducting an…

In California, members of the military and veterans are protected from discrimination and harassment in employment, housing, and business establishments. It is unlawful for employers, landlords, businesses of all kinds, health care providers and insurers, homeless shelters, and others to discriminate against anyone or harass them because of their military or veteran status. Under California…

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), enforced by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), contains provisions guaranteeing leave for employees disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition (Pregnancy Disability Leave or PDL). All employers must provide information about PDL to their employees and post information about pregnancy leave rights…

What Does “Transgender” Mean? Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender expression is defined by the law to mean a “person’s gender-related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.” Gender identity and gender…

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) enforces laws that protect you from illegal discrimination and harassment in employment based on your actual or perceived: ANCESTRY AGE (40 and above) COLOR DISABILITY (physical, mental, HIV and AIDS) GENETIC INFORMATION GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION MARITAL STATUS MEDICAL CONDITION (genetic characteristics, cancer or a record…

Employers in California are required to compensate their workers for any expenses incurred while performing their duties. These costs include the cost of supplying a personal automobile or a cell phone for business use. Employers are increasingly demanding employees to work from home, which nearly always necessitates the employee having access to the internet. If…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which will be effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for…

On April 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that individuals who previously received deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may now file Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online. “The expansion of online filing is a priority for USCIS as we make our operations more efficient and…