The material on this website is provided by Beeson, Tayer & Bodine for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented. Some of the articles are updated periodically, and are marked with the date of the last update. Again, readers should consult with their own legal counsel for the most current information and to obtain professional advice before acting on any of the information presented.
Employment Law
New Final Rule Updates Outdated Overtime Regulations, Expanding Overtime Coverage to Millions of Workers
June 6, 2016 by
Stephanie Platenkamp
The Department of Labor has published a Final Rule updating overtime regulations that will extend overtime pay to 4.2 million workers across the country. This update was badly needed, as the portion of employees qualifying… Read More
Court Strikes Down Class Action Arbitration Waivers
June 1, 2016 by
Christopher Hammer
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 26 issued a watershed decision banning mandatory employment arbitration agreements that bar employees from bringing class-action claims. (Lewis v. Epic Systems Corp.) The court’s decision aligns it… Read More
Give Me a Break! Court Clears Up Confusion on When Rest Breaks Must Be Provided Employment
May 2, 2016 by
Andrew Baker
California’s rest-break rule requires employers to provide employees with a paid ten-minute rest period which “insofar as practicable” must be in the middle of each “work period.” The rule specifies that one break must be… Read More
Supreme Court Rejects Employer Attack on California’s Workplace Seating Requirement
April 20, 2016 by
Christopher Hammer
The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision confirming the right of California workers to take a seat on the job when the nature of the work allows. In issuing this decision, the Court… Read More
Great Day for California’s Working Families
March 31, 2016 by
Peter McEntee
Today, March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day), thanks to tenacious advocacy by labor unions and workers’ right advocates, both houses of the State Legislature passed a historic minimum wage increase for California workers that the Governor… Read More
Big Victory for Misclassified Port Drivers
March 14, 2016 by
Andrew Baker
The Teamsters have struck a major victory in their campaign to organize port drivers. The California Labor Commissioner’s office has ordered Pacific 9 Transportation to compensate 38 employee drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors. … Read More
“A crisis from which we bleed” –Martin Luther King, labor and wealth inequality
January 18, 2016 by
Teague Paterson
Throughout his life Dr. King recognized the dangers of economic inequality, both because its sting is disproportionately felt by African-Americans and as a barrier to democratic participation. Dr. King was as concerned with wealth inequality… Read More
Blowing the Whistle at Work Grants Whistleblower Protection, Even if You’re Not Blowing the Whistle About Your Boss
October 14, 2015 by
Andrew Baker
Dental hygienist Rosa Lee Cardenas received an expensive new wedding ring from her husband to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Rosa Lee lost her wedding ring at work, under circumstances that led her to suspect… Read More
LAPD Can’t Impose Training Costs on Cops
September 28, 2015 by
Andrew Baker
California Labor Code Section 2802 prohibits employers from imposing on employees expenses employees incur on the job, and Section 2804 voids employment contacts that contravene Section 2802. This didn’t stop the City of Los Angeles… Read More
NLRB Protects Class-Action Filers from Retaliation
August 31, 2015 by
Andrew Baker
A non-union employee files a class action lawsuit against his employer on behalf of himself and his co-workers claiming wage and hour violations. The employer retaliates by firing the employee. Is there any legal protection… Read More
New Final Rule Updates Outdated Overtime Regulations, Expanding Overtime Coverage to Millions of Workers
June 6, 2016 by Stephanie Platenkamp
The Department of Labor has published a Final Rule updating overtime regulations that will extend overtime pay to 4.2 million workers across the country. This update was badly needed, as the portion of employees qualifying… Read More
Court Strikes Down Class Action Arbitration Waivers
June 1, 2016 by Christopher Hammer
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on May 26 issued a watershed decision banning mandatory employment arbitration agreements that bar employees from bringing class-action claims. (Lewis v. Epic Systems Corp.) The court’s decision aligns it… Read More
Give Me a Break! Court Clears Up Confusion on When Rest Breaks Must Be Provided Employment
May 2, 2016 by Andrew Baker
California’s rest-break rule requires employers to provide employees with a paid ten-minute rest period which “insofar as practicable” must be in the middle of each “work period.” The rule specifies that one break must be… Read More
Supreme Court Rejects Employer Attack on California’s Workplace Seating Requirement
April 20, 2016 by Christopher Hammer
The California Supreme Court has issued an important decision confirming the right of California workers to take a seat on the job when the nature of the work allows. In issuing this decision, the Court… Read More
Great Day for California’s Working Families
March 31, 2016 by Peter McEntee
Today, March 31 (Cesar Chavez Day), thanks to tenacious advocacy by labor unions and workers’ right advocates, both houses of the State Legislature passed a historic minimum wage increase for California workers that the Governor… Read More
Big Victory for Misclassified Port Drivers
March 14, 2016 by Andrew Baker
The Teamsters have struck a major victory in their campaign to organize port drivers. The California Labor Commissioner’s office has ordered Pacific 9 Transportation to compensate 38 employee drivers who were misclassified as independent contractors. … Read More
“A crisis from which we bleed” –Martin Luther King, labor and wealth inequality
January 18, 2016 by Teague Paterson
Throughout his life Dr. King recognized the dangers of economic inequality, both because its sting is disproportionately felt by African-Americans and as a barrier to democratic participation. Dr. King was as concerned with wealth inequality… Read More
Blowing the Whistle at Work Grants Whistleblower Protection, Even if You’re Not Blowing the Whistle About Your Boss
October 14, 2015 by Andrew Baker
Dental hygienist Rosa Lee Cardenas received an expensive new wedding ring from her husband to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Rosa Lee lost her wedding ring at work, under circumstances that led her to suspect… Read More
LAPD Can’t Impose Training Costs on Cops
September 28, 2015 by Andrew Baker
California Labor Code Section 2802 prohibits employers from imposing on employees expenses employees incur on the job, and Section 2804 voids employment contacts that contravene Section 2802. This didn’t stop the City of Los Angeles… Read More
NLRB Protects Class-Action Filers from Retaliation
August 31, 2015 by Andrew Baker
A non-union employee files a class action lawsuit against his employer on behalf of himself and his co-workers claiming wage and hour violations. The employer retaliates by firing the employee. Is there any legal protection… Read More
