Legal Updates

California Fair Pay Act

California made history in 2015 with passage of the California Fair Pay Act, which required employers in California to implement wage parity for men and women doing “substantially similar” work.  In 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed two laws that expand the California...

July 2017 CA Employment Law Changes

July 1 is the start of the state fiscal year, and with that, we are seeing some new employment law changes. Domestic Violence Notice and Leave Employers with 25 or more employees are required to provide job-protected leave for employees who need to take time off for...

New California Criminal History Regulations (Effective July 1, 2017)

The California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) has finalized new regulations that impose significant limitations on an employer’s ability to consider a person’s criminal history when making hiring, promotion, or other employment decisions.  These rules go...

ELIMINATION OF BOND REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL BEVERAGE MANUFACTURERS

As of January 1, 2017, if you are the proprietor of a brewery, distilled spirits plant, or winery owing not more than $50,000 in excise taxes in the previous year, and you expect to owe not more than $50,000 in excise taxes in the current year on beer, distilled...

January 2017 – New Law Updates

Welcome to 2017!  Lawmakers have kept us busy this year with a batch of new laws, and did not slow down during the holiday season.  Please see below for some new updates for those in San Diego and Los Angeles, as well as those operating throughout the State of...

Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Increase for City of San Diego

On June 7, 2016, voters approved “Proposition I,” which is set to raise the minimum wage in the City of San Diego and provide the opportunities for workers to earn up to 5 paid sick days (40 hours) per year. While the official results are still being tabulated and...

Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Increase for City of San Diego

On June 7, 2016, voters approved “Proposition I,” which is set to raise the minimum wage in the City of San Diego and provide the opportunities for workers to earn up to 5 paid sick days (40 hours) per year. While the official results are still being tabulated and...

CA Minimum Wage Increase Reminders (Effective July 1, 2016)

City and County Minimum Wage increases for non-exempt Effective July 1, 2016 California cities and counties have passed numerous minimum wage ordinances, many of which update on July 1, 2016.  Minimum wage increases include the following: El Cerrito - $11.60 per hour...

California Minimum Wage increase

On April 4, 2016, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that will raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2022.  This Client Alert will give you an overview of what to expect and the salary impacts this will have on both non-exempt (hourly)...

AB 987 – Reasonable Accommodation

AB 987 states that an employee’s request for an accommodation for a disability or for religious reasons is considered a “protected activity” for a retaliation claim under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).  The FEHA applies to all California...

SB 600 – Additional Protected Classes in Unruh Civil Rights Act

The Unruh Civil Rights Act is already existing law in California, and is aimed at preventing discrimination.  Originally passed in 1959, the provisions of the law have been expanded over time to prevent discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry,...

SB 358 – California Fair Pay Act

California enacted one of the most comprehensive fair pay act in the country, which seeks to remedy the wage gap between male and female employees. California law already requires employers to pay men and women working in the same location equal pay for the same job. ...

AB 1506 – Amendment to California’s Private Attorney General Act

AB 1506 affects one of California strangest and most peculiar laws – the Private Attorney General Act, or PAGA.  AB 1506 became effective on the date that Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill into law, which was October 2, 2015. PAGA was enacted in 2004 as a way to...

AB 893 – Labeling Requirements – “Beer Brand Registration”

This bill dramatically streamlines the label approval process in California. It removes the previously used and time-consuming approval process and allows breweries to sell beer as soon as a label registration is filed, without the need for any further action or...

Increase in the Minimum Wage

As of January 1, 2016, the required minimum wage for most of California will increase to $10.00 per hour.  If you are in a city or county that has approved a higher minimum wage rate, you are required to compensate employees at that higher rate. This wage increase...

AB 780 – Advertising of Retailers

AB 780 – Advertising of Retailers This bill updates advertising rules in regards to retailers. Currently, a manufacturer may list the contact information of on-sale retailers that carry its beer so long as (1) it is done in response to a direct consumer inquiry and...

AB 774 – Farmers’ Markets Tastings and Non-Profit Privileges

The newly passed farmers’ market permit for beer manufacturers is getting an early renovation.  While wine growers were already allowed to offer instructional tastings at farmers’ market, beer manufacturers were previously denied the privilege.  This bill rectifies...