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.
Articles
Courts Affirm Commercial Driver Protection Under California Labor Law
September 8, 2014 by
Dalisai Nisperos
Two important court decisions recently affirmed that California commercial drivers are protected by state labor and unfair competition laws, and that federal trucking rules do not exempt California motor carriers from these laws. These ruling… Read More
US Supreme Court Clarifies Public Employee Free Speech Rights
September 1, 2014 by
Andrew Baker
Public employees enjoy free speech rights, the same as all citizens, when they speak “as citizens,” but their speech rights are extremely limited when they speak “as employees.” The line between citizen speech and employee… Read More
Teacher Names Linked to Test Scores Ruled Exempt From Public Disclosure
August 25, 2014 by
Margaret Geddes & Christopher Hammer
Standardized testing in education is a contentious issue. Proponents of testing argue that it is necessary for evaluating both student and teacher performance. Opponents believe testing forces teachers to “teach to the test” which only… Read More
New Developments in Public Employee Labor Relations (PERB), Pensions and Initiatives
August 18, 2014 by
Teague Paterson
In the past several weeks, a number of decisions provide challenges, opportunities, and fodder in the law of public employee labor relations, retirement security, and the initiative process. Each of these developments arise from the… Read More
NLRB OK’s Departmental Bargaining Unit – What’s the Big Deal?
August 11, 2014 by
Andrew Baker
The NLRB on July 22 issued its “long awaited” decision in Macy’s, 361 NLRB No. 4, approving an election in a petitioned-for unit limited to employees working in a single department of the store. The… Read More
California Overtime Rules: Commission Pay Cannot Be Shifted to Other Pay Periods to Exempt Employees from Overtime
August 4, 2014 by
Vishtasp Soroushian
In Peabody v. Time Warner Cable Inc., the California Supreme Court held that an employer may not attribute commission wages paid in one pay period to other pay periods in order to satisfy the state’s… Read More
Legal Requirement for Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program Goes Into Effect
July 28, 2014 by
Christopher Hammer
Employers and employees as well as the San Francisco Bay air quality are likely to benefit from the upcoming implementation of this new employment benefit. In an effort to improve air quality, reduce emissions of… Read More
Beeson, Tayer & Bodine files amicus brief on behalf of Peace Officers Research Association of California (“PORAC”) and PORAC Legal Defense Fund
July 24, 2014 by
Teague Paterson
Beeson, Tayer and Bodine (BT&B) has filed an amicus brief on behalf of PORAC in an important case that tests the protections afforded collective bargaining agreements under the California Constitution’s contract clause. The case involves… Read More
Law Enacted Mandating Pay to Expand Protection for Outdoor Worker Heat Breaks
July 21, 2014 by
Andrew Baker
As the drought drags on and temperatures reach their midsummer highs in California, many outdoor workers face exposure to increasingly dangerous, even deadly, conditions. California employment law for some time now has required breaks and… Read More
California Legislature Revamps Laws Governing Dismissals and Suspensions of Public School Educators
July 14, 2014 by
Dale Brodsky and Maggie Geddes
So far this year, legal activity around public school teacher rights in California has been mixed with job rights advocates and lawyers seeing setbacks as well as increased protections. The close of the 2014 legislative… Read More

Courts Affirm Commercial Driver Protection Under California Labor Law
September 8, 2014 by Dalisai Nisperos
Two important court decisions recently affirmed that California commercial drivers are protected by state labor and unfair competition laws, and that federal trucking rules do not exempt California motor carriers from these laws. These ruling… Read More

US Supreme Court Clarifies Public Employee Free Speech Rights
September 1, 2014 by Andrew Baker
Public employees enjoy free speech rights, the same as all citizens, when they speak “as citizens,” but their speech rights are extremely limited when they speak “as employees.” The line between citizen speech and employee… Read More
Teacher Names Linked to Test Scores Ruled Exempt From Public Disclosure
August 25, 2014 by Margaret Geddes & Christopher Hammer
Standardized testing in education is a contentious issue. Proponents of testing argue that it is necessary for evaluating both student and teacher performance. Opponents believe testing forces teachers to “teach to the test” which only… Read More

New Developments in Public Employee Labor Relations (PERB), Pensions and Initiatives
August 18, 2014 by Teague Paterson
In the past several weeks, a number of decisions provide challenges, opportunities, and fodder in the law of public employee labor relations, retirement security, and the initiative process. Each of these developments arise from the… Read More

NLRB OK’s Departmental Bargaining Unit – What’s the Big Deal?
August 11, 2014 by Andrew Baker
The NLRB on July 22 issued its “long awaited” decision in Macy’s, 361 NLRB No. 4, approving an election in a petitioned-for unit limited to employees working in a single department of the store. The… Read More

California Overtime Rules: Commission Pay Cannot Be Shifted to Other Pay Periods to Exempt Employees from Overtime
August 4, 2014 by Vishtasp Soroushian
In Peabody v. Time Warner Cable Inc., the California Supreme Court held that an employer may not attribute commission wages paid in one pay period to other pay periods in order to satisfy the state’s… Read More

Legal Requirement for Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program Goes Into Effect
July 28, 2014 by Christopher Hammer
Employers and employees as well as the San Francisco Bay air quality are likely to benefit from the upcoming implementation of this new employment benefit. In an effort to improve air quality, reduce emissions of… Read More

Beeson, Tayer & Bodine files amicus brief on behalf of Peace Officers Research Association of California (“PORAC”) and PORAC Legal Defense Fund
July 24, 2014 by Teague Paterson
Beeson, Tayer and Bodine (BT&B) has filed an amicus brief on behalf of PORAC in an important case that tests the protections afforded collective bargaining agreements under the California Constitution’s contract clause. The case involves… Read More

Law Enacted Mandating Pay to Expand Protection for Outdoor Worker Heat Breaks
July 21, 2014 by Andrew Baker
As the drought drags on and temperatures reach their midsummer highs in California, many outdoor workers face exposure to increasingly dangerous, even deadly, conditions. California employment law for some time now has required breaks and… Read More

California Legislature Revamps Laws Governing Dismissals and Suspensions of Public School Educators
July 14, 2014 by Dale Brodsky and Maggie Geddes
So far this year, legal activity around public school teacher rights in California has been mixed with job rights advocates and lawyers seeing setbacks as well as increased protections. The close of the 2014 legislative… Read More