Today, September 23, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new Executive Order directing the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop regulations that lead to all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in California being zero-emissions by 2035. It also requires that new medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses sold and operated in the state be zero-emissions by 2045.

With the California Consumer Privacy Act in full force and effect, businesses in California and across the country are starting to wonder if the time to pass a national standard is now. However, with the 2020 election looming and little action from Washington, such a bill is unlikely to relieve California businesses in the near or even medium term future.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued clarifications for provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) regulations pertaining to paid leave. They've also released new FAQs clarifying provisions in the FFCRA related to childcare issues. Meanwhile in California, Governor Newsom has signed legislation that expands Coronavirus paid sick leave coverage to employers who have not been covered under the FFCRA, and that intensifies notification requirements in response to a potential employee exposure to the COVID-19 virus. In one way or another, these changes affect almost every California employer.

Law firm Scali Rasmussen announced today that Joseph P. Sbuttoni has joined the Firm’s Labor and Employment Law group and will be officed out of the firm’s San Diego office. “Joe has a highly specialized practice in the automotive space,” said Managing Partner, Christian Scali. “He adds tremendous value to the Firm’s clients.”

With required symptom checks and potential outbreaks among employees and customers, the Coronavirus has raised new questions regarding privacy for businesses across California.

California Labor Code Section 226 specifies numerous wage statement disclosures that employers must provide to employees each pay date. One question that has lingered is whether Section 226’s requirements apply to employees who perform some work in California but also a significant amount of work outside California. This issue has arisen in the context of a couple of cases involving airline workers who spent time both within and outside California: Ward v. United Airlines, Inc. and Oman v. Delta Airlines, Inc.

In anticipation of return to school issues that are bound to arise with so many schools currently implementing distance learning, on August 27, 2020, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) released new FAQs clarifying provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) related to childcare issues. The FFCRA provides that employees may receive paid leave if they need to miss work in order to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed, or childcare provider is unavailable, for Coronavirus reasons. The clarifications provided by these new FAQs are as follows...

Although the California Attorney General has only had the authority to enforce the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) since July 1, 2020, it could be overhauled by a new privacy law that qualified for the 2020 November ballot in California.

Title 1 of the CARES Act is referred to as the “Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act.” The “Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act” establishes an SBA Loan program called the “Paycheck Protection Program” (PPP) and process for forgiveness of the loan if certain compensation and employment metrics are met. It also expands access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and provides a subsidy to help businesses repay SBA loans (with the exception of the PPP loans). Below are many of the frequently asked questions about the Paycheck Protection Program portions of the CARES Act...

Last month the California Attorney General announced that the Office of Administrative Law has approved the final California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations. The final draft, submitted to OALL in late June of this year, is substantially the same as the final version, with minor tweaks that impact brick-and-mortar retailers. If your business has been waiting until final regulations to comply with the law, now is the time.