As many California employers know all too well, wage and hour class actions are on the rise. A quick Google search of any combination of the words “California”, “wage and hour” and “class actions” results in thousands of results, a number of them actual cases involving disgruntled employees seeking millions of dollars from their employers.…
The Ninth Circuit recently found unenforceable a class (or “collective”) action waiver requiring employees to arbitrate their claims individually. In other words, requiring class action waivers as a condition of hire or continued employment violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRA applies to both unionized and many private, non-unionized workforces and protects covered…
California has been home to many a class action lawsuit surrounding meal and rest breaks, both before and after the state Supreme Court’s crucial 2012 decision in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court. Consequently, California employers have a sharp interest in making their break policies and practices as compliant as possible. The Basic Rest Break…
In a win for employers throughout California and across the country, a recent court decision shows that an “honest belief” continues to be an effective defense for employers responding to employment discrimination claims. In an employment law context, the “honest belief” rule focuses on what a decision-maker honestly believed the facts to be and whether…