The EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has rolled out the most dramatic shift in its enforcement posture in decades, narrowing some protections and targeting others, especially around disparate impact, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and gender identity. Also, with the confirmation of Commissioner Brittany Bull Panuccio in October 2025, the EEOC once again has a […]
This is the second of two parts, highlighting the top 10 laws and regulations affecting California businesses in 2026. Wage judgment penalties On Jan. 1, 2026, SB 261 expanded the potential liabilities for employers that fail to pay a final wage judgment. Under the new law, if an employer fails to pay a final judgment […]
With 2026 now upon us, so is a slew of new laws and regulations that affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2025 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another wave of new legislation that California […]
As the construction industry continues to rebound from the recession, contractors face evolving risks that, left unchecked, can leave their operations exposed to new liabilities. If you already operate a construction firm, you know that there is a labor shortage that has affected the makeup of your workforce, and that hiring entities are asking builders […]
With year-end festivities about to begin, you should include safety into your holiday plans, be that if you are simply decorating the office or throwing a holiday/year-end party for your staff. While you obviously want your staff to relax and have fun at your holiday party, you also want to make sure they get home […]
Drug and alcohol use by employees on or off the job is a troublesome societal plague that has put many employers on the defensive. Research by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that between 10% and 20% of the nation’s workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs. The same […]
For businesses that suffer property damage, getting repairs or rebuilding completed on time and within budget is becoming an uphill battle. A mix of inflation, supply chain challenges leading to material shortages, a tight construction labor market and the inherent complexity of commercial construction have pushed costs higher and stretched timelines longer. This can leave […]
California employers have new compliance challenges because of a law that further broadens the circumstances under which employees can take protected paid and unpaid leave. AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on last year’s revisions to the state’s paid sick and safe time and crime-victim leave laws, adding new categories of protected […]
Starting Oct. 1, 2025, any California employer that uses artificial intelligence AI and other automated tools in recruiting, hiring, promotion and related human resources decisions will have to ensure that the tools don’t discriminate against protected classes. The new regulations, promulgated by California’s Civil Rights Department, cover any “automated decision system” (ADS) which the rules […]
American workplaces are facing a growing civility crisis that is costing companies dearly. According to new research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), rudeness and discourteous behavior are costing U.S. businesses an estimated $2.1 billion every day in lost productivity, absenteeism and disengagement. The problem doesn’t stop at rudeness: a separate study shows […]