Tag: Orange County

Workplace Violence and Hiring

A recent incident in Orange County, Florida, where a former employee entered the workplace and fatally shot five people before turning the gun on himself, has HR professionals again discussing how acts like these can be prevented. One issue that frequently comes up is the possible link between hiring and workplace violence. But does such […]

3 elements of an effective employment handbook

Employment handbooks should protect employers. “An employee handbook provides communication; it helps you to comply with the law; [and] it provides consistency – it allows you to treat all employees in a consistent manner.” Andrea Paris explained in a recent CER webinar: These are the 3 C’s of an effective employment handbook: communication, compliance, and […]

Top 10 employment handbook mistakes

California’s strict and complex employment laws make it more important than ever to have an effective employment handbook. Policies that are clearly written and effectively spell out the rights and responsibilities of both you and your employees can reduce your risk of liability and protect your business. But if you don’t get your employment handbook […]

FMLA/CFRA medical certifications in California: An overview

A medical certification is a written document from a health care provider verifying that an employee’s leave is for a serious health condition. It is an objective tool that HR managers should use to determine whether to grant or deny leave requests under FMLA, the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, and the California Family Rights […]

Misclassified Employees Can Mean Big Payouts

In yesterday’s CED, attorneys Veronica Gray & E. George Joseph warned of the coming crackdown on misclassification of independent contractors. Today, classification factors considered by government agencies and the courts, as well as an introduction to a can’t-miss webinar next week. Misclassification is high on the DOL and IRS agendas, so it’s a good place […]

Releases: Military Leave Claims Not Released by Severance Agreement Provision

Brian Perez, a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, was terminated the day he returned to work at Uline, Inc., in Orange County, following a one-week military leave. Uline presented Perez with a severance agreement, which stated that Perez would receive six weeks’ salary in exchange for releasing the company from all claims, including […]

News Notes: Clothing Retailer Settles Wage Claims

Clothing retailer The Wet Seal Inc. has agreed to shell out up to $1.3 million to settle a dispute with as many as 500 California store managers who claimed they were improperly classified as exempt from overtime pay because they performed primarily nonexempt work, such as stocking and helping customers. In a separate development, The […]