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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES NEW SALARY THRESHOLD FOR WHITE COLLAR EXEMPTIONS

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued its highly anticipated salary overtime exemption rule, replacing the controversial Obama administration rule. Effective January 1, 2020, the new minimum salary threshold for workers to qualify as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards (FLSA) “white collar” exemption is

CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT PROHIBITS EMPLOYEES FROM SUING PAYROLL COMPANIES FOR WAGE VIOLATIONS

by Michelle R. Ferber and Jennifer R. Lucas On February 7, 2019, the California Supreme Court decided the case of Goonewardene v. ADP, LLC, which considered the novel question of whether an employee could sue her employer’s payroll company for wage and hour and other statutory violations.  Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s answer was that the

FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DETERMINES CALIFORNIA TRUCKERS ARE EXEMPT FROM MEAL PERIOD AND REST BREAK REQUIREMENTS

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona On December 21, 2018, in a victory for the American Trucking Association (ATA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an Agency regulated by the Department of Transportation, granted the ATA petition to exempt commercial motor vehicle drivers covered by the FMCSA’s hours of service regulations from

CAUTION: NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENTS ARE LIKELY UNENFORCEABLE

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona In AMN Healthcare Inc. v. Aya Healthcare Services, Inc., the Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District held that non-solicitation agreements are void unless they fall within one of the three statutory exceptions found in Business & Professions Code Sections 16601 – 16602.5 relating to the

CALIFORNIA APPELLATE COURT LIMITS APPLICATION OF DYNAMEX TO WAGE ORDER VIOLATIONS ONLY

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona After months of uncertainty, finally, an Appellate Court has spoken with regard to the application of Dynamex to cases involving claims other than alleged wage order violations. In Garcia v. Border Transportation Group, the court concluded that the Dynamex ABC test, which determines independent contractor status, only

NEW PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona California has passed a myriad of new laws that will become effective January 1, 2019 that expand employer liability for sexual harassment. Below is a brief summary of each law. SB 1300 Under current law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), provides that an employer

Ninth Circuit Denies California Trucking Association’s Attempt to Use Federal Preemption to Avoid Enforcement of State Labor Law

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona Last month, the Ninth Circuit concluded that the California Labor Commissioner’s use of the common-law Borello standard to determine employment classification was not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act (“FAAAA”). In California Trucking Association v. Su, the court determined that the Labor Commissioner could apply

DISTINGUISHING ENHANCED PAY FROM PIECE RATE AND/OR COMMISSION PLANS

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona A California appeals court recently underscored the importance of avoiding piece rate and/or commission based systems of pay by concluding that a Technician Compensation Program (TCP) where each technician was guaranteed an hourly rate of pay above minimum wage for every hour worked is lawful (and does

Employment Law Seminar – Preview of 2019 and Continuing Trends

  Ferber Law would like to invite you to our upcoming Employment Law Seminar.  We will provide a preview of 2019 and continuing trends in employment law.  The details are: DATE:  Tuesday, October 2, 2018 TIME:  9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Presentation/Questions PLACE:   Roundhouse Conference Center, Shasta Room 2600 Camino

DESPITE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS, EMPLOYERS CAN STILL FIRE EMPLOYEES FOR TESTING POSITIVE

by Michelle R. Ferber and Julie Ann Giammona Proposition 64, Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), effective January 1, 2018, makes recreational use of cannabis legal in California. Marijuana, for medicinal purposes, has been legal in California since 1996 under The Compassionate Care Act, provided the user has a medical marijuana card from a licensed healthcare