The Efficiency of Arbitration in the Workplace
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Sep 09, 2008
Employers and employees can agree to resolve issues that arise in the workplace by way of arbitration. This process is normally quicker and less expensive than going through the judicial process. ...
Prospective Employees and the "Felony" Question
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Aug 26, 2008
When applying for a job, many employees may fear that question on the application form that asks: “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” That fear may be well-founded as some emp...
Access to Employee Information
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 29, 2008
While employers are the ultimate owners of most things relating to their business, some information must be shared with their employees, for example, the employee’s personnel file. Emplo...
Do You Have the Right to Discipline Your Employees for Their Off-Duty Conduct?
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 29, 2008
California Labor Code §96(k) authorizes the Labor Commissioner to act on an employee’s claims for loss of wages because of demotion, suspension or discharge for lawful conduct occurring ...
Hands-Free Cell Phone Use Affects Some Employers
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 29, 2008
As most of us are now aware, last year, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the California Wireless Telephone Automobile Safety Act of 2006. This legislation was enacted because of the growing...
New Legislation to Benefit Spouses of Deployed Military Members
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 29, 2008
In order to serve the families of troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to assure that these families are able to spend time together during leaves from deployment, legislation has ...
Employers Are Required by Law to Reasonably Accommodate Illiteracy
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 29, 2008
At the end of last year, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) published a study entitled, +To Read or Not to Read+. The study was based on a variety of data sources and ultimately concluded t...
Denial of Insurance Claim Because of Employer's Failure to Comply With Policy Requirements
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 22, 2008
Employers can purchase Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) to protect themselves in the event an employee files a civil lawsuit against them. A recent case, Westrec Marina Management v...
Do Not Rely on the Terms of a Collective Bargaining Agreement As a Defense to Employee Claims for Overtime, Meal and Rest Periods
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jul 08, 2008
Many employers and employees think that once an agreement has been collectively bargained with a union, that is the final word in determining the wages, hours and working conditions in the workplac...
Federal Contractors Are Now Required to Use an Electronic Employment Eligibility System
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jun 24, 2008
On June 9, 2008, President Bush signed an Executive Order requiring that all federal contractors use E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly...
New Employee Processing
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Jun 10, 2008
Going through the selection process for a new hire is often a daunting task for any employer. Careful screening and interviewing techniques to come to the final decision is critical to the success...
English-Only Policies
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – May 27, 2008
Employers these days are fortunate to have employees hailing from all over the world. In order to correlate a cosmopolitan staff with the business needs of the workplace, employers sometimes find ...
Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Private Employment Arena
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – May 12, 2008
In past articles, we have discussed California’s Drug-Free Workplace Act, which applies to employers who have contracts with, or receive grants from, the State of California, as well as the t...
No Individual Liability for Retaliation
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Mar 11, 2008
Last week, the California Supreme Court decided in _Jones v. The Lodge at Torrey Pines Partnership_ that non-employer individuals, such as corporate officers and directors, supervisors and managers...
National Defense Authorization Act
Anne Frassetto Olsen, ESQ. – Feb 12, 2008
On January 28, 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act became law, amending the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Among other things, this law permits eligible employees who are family members...