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Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Court Reduces PAGA Penalties by 99%
Highlights Impact of 2024 Private Attorneys General Act Reforms Since 2004, the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has allowed California employees to sue employers for Labor Code violations such as unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, and noncompliant wage statements — and not just on the employee’s own behalf, but on behalf of other aggrieved employees as well. PAGA sets default civil penalties of $100 per employee per pay period, though some violations carry their own specific penalty
Monday, August 17, 2026Can Worker Lacking Work Permit Be Hired as Independent Contractor?
An applicant recently moved here from another country and has applied for a work permit, but she has not yet received an employment authorization document from the government. She says that she was told she could work as an independent contractor, so she set up a business, with a license, insurance and a tax ID number. Are we able to hire her as an independent contractor? This question raises several issues.Independent ContractorABC Test The starting point of the analysis would be whether the individual
Tuesday, August 11, 2026Employee Complains Coworkers Speak in Foreign Language: What Now?
We have nine employees in one office area. One employee complained that three of their coworkers speak to each other in another language. The employee is uncomfortable and feels excluded. Can we require everyone in this work group to speak only English? Issues related to languages spoken in the workplace arise in multiple contexts and must be handled carefully. “English-only” rules risk claims of national origin discrimination.Language Restrictions California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
