Now that California’s Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) reforms are in full effect, businesses – big and small – should be aware of key changes in labor law enforcement and the monetary penalties that accompany them. Signed into law on July 1, 2024, the new legislation aims to alleviate the substantial financial burden PAGA has…
On July 23, 2024, California implemented the “Heat Illness Prevention in Indoor Places of Employment” regulation, targeting workplaces with indoor temperatures of 82°F or higher. Employers are now required to create a written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan, customized to their specific workplace conditions. This plan should include procedures for monitoring temperatures, providing water, ensuring…
On August 1, 2024, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Turrieta v. Lyft (2024 S.O.S. 2599), altering the strategic landscape for employees and employers embroiled in Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) litigation. The Court ruled 5-2 that PAGA plaintiffs do not have an automatic right to intervene in, object to settlements of, or…
In 2020, California voters approved “Prop 22” through a ballot initiative, with 58% voting in favor of the measure. Prop 22 allows for so-called “gig workers” – such as Uber and Lyft drivers – to be paid as independent contractors rather than employees. Prop 22 was subsequently challenged on grounds that it conflicted with California…
By Nathanel Ghinghis, Esq. California has long protected workers’ trade and mobility rights and has been generally hostile to employee noncompete agreements. Those restraints have recently expanded, with the passage of two new laws: Senate Bill 699 (SB 699) and Assembly Bill 1076 (AB 1076). SB 699 Effective January 1, 2024, SB 699 (codified as…
