California’s new Fair Pay Act, which became law on Tuesday, October 6, is posed to be a litigation game-changer for companies that do business in California. Signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown, the Act is intended to “strengthen” the state’s existing equal-pay law by forbidding employers from paying employees less than their opposite-sex counterparts…
New x-mod formulas have been approved and employers should be focusing on limiting the number vs. cost of claims. Changes are afoot in how experience modifications are going to be calculated. An experience modification or “X-Mod” is a percentage calculated by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (“WCIRB”) based on an employer’s payroll, number of…
A self insured employer is one who self insures their workers’ compensation liabilities. If you are one such employer, you are not alone: California has the largest workers’ compensation self insurance program in the nation. As of January 1, 2014, nearly 10,000 California employers were actively self insured. Employers may choose to self insure their…
If you are considering buying or selling a business, you’ll want to be familiar with potential legal issues that may arise, including valuation, how the transaction will occur, allocation and taxes, and more. Consulting with a business attorney well-versed in these matters is a smart first step. As you begin to consider a sale or…
If you plan to start a business in California, you are likely considering which form your venture should take. For example, a business may be organized as a sole proprietorship, led by one person who is the owner and operator of the establishment or set up as a type of partnership. Many businesses are formally…
If your California employee was injured, or claims to have been injured on the job, they may want to visit with their own doctor or medical professional. While they are welcome to do so, they generally must also visit with an in-network doctor. Indeed, many workers comp insurance carriers include a Medical Provider Network (MPN)…
Workers comp can be a source of challenge and frustration for many California employers, especially as it relates to premiums and claims. Two sources of information that employers can refer to in order to gain a better understanding of the current state of the market for workers’ compensation insurance are the Division of Workers’ Compensation…
Working in corporate America used to be the goal, but nowadays for many Californians, the 9 to 5 is no longer the preferred form of employment. Indeed, more and more entrepreneurs are venturing out to work for themselves. For some, that means joining together with family to start a small business. And while starting a…
The payment of wages to employees in California is governed by the California Labor Code and regulations promulgated by the Industrial Welfare Commission. These laws and regulations are enforced by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. These laws set forth the basic standards for minimum wage, overtime, tips, meal and rest breaks, and time worked. …
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are civil lawsuits or countersuits usually brought by corporations or government entities against individuals or organizations for the purpose of chilling or preventing certain speech or behavior. SLAPPs generally involve claims of defamation, libel, slander, interference with prospective economic advantage, malicious prosecution, and/or abuse of process. Typically a SLAPP…