Before we break for the year, I wanted to pass along a wee bit of wisdom I have gleaned from some of my cases in 2025. After all, that is in part why I do these Briefings – to share the lessons I learn from the cases and situations I handle. It feels like the…
The Impact of AI in the Workplace
I started this article by asking Chat GPT to analyze the impact of AI in the workplace. Here is what it created for me, in under a minute. 1. Skill Gaps & Workforce Reskilling AI is changing job requirements faster than many employees can adapt.HR challenge: 2. Ethical Use of AI in Hiring AI-powered recruiting…
New California Employment Laws for 2026
New Minimum Wage and Exempt Salary For 2026 The new statewide California minimum wage will be $16.90 as of January 1, 2026. Remember that if you are in a jurisdiction such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, or MANY other locals, your minimum wage will be HIGHER. I will do a complete location by…
Amazon Ruling Reminder to Pay for All Time Onboarding
On September 23, 2025, a California federal judge certified a class of Amazon workers alleging that they were not paid for time spent at new hire events. The judge also granted Amazon partial summary judgment on certain of the wage claims for unpaid time spent with I-9 forms, drug testing, and going through the background…
Definition of “Uniform” Tested with Starbucks’ New Lawsuit
Last week, Starbucks employees from California, Colorado, and Illinois launched legal actions claiming their employer refused to reimburse them for required shoes and clothing under the Starbucks newly published dress code. Workers complain that despite being paid only minimum wage, the coffee giant is requiring them to use their personal money to purchase…
Substance Abuse Issues in the Workplace
I don’t know if it’s the time of year or just the state of the world, but I have been receiving increased client calls about employees under the influence at work. I thought I had written a prior article on this, but apparently not. It consequently seemed a good time to address the…
Let’s Talk About Payroll Compliance
Retain copies of all payroll documents, especially before you switch payroll providers – This issue seems to crop up on nearly a daily basis for us. My team and I are responding to demand letters from lawyers, asking for the payroll records for an employee. We are defending wage and hour lawsuits, single employee, class…
The Importance of Manager Training
Two different clients in the span of two days mentioned to me the benefits of increased focus on manager training. They both said that they knew I was an advocate, which of course, I am. But I don’t think I have ever specifically addressed the topic before. Employers, especially corporations and partnerships, are entities. That…
Drop the Concept of “Probationary Period”
The concept of a “probationary period” at the start of employment derives from the Union context, where new employees are given a certain period before they are covered under the Company’s cba (collective bargaining agreement). There, it makes sense. After that probationary period, the Company must start making contributions under the cba, and at the…
Refresher on Meal and Rest Break Compliance in California
Meal and rest break claims are still at the heart of nearly every wage and hour lawsuit – whether it’s a class action, a PAGA suit, or an individual lawsuit or administrative claim. When these lawsuits hit, my clients all assure me that they are “compliant;” yet often, when we dig in, we uncover issues. …