Question: Can I deduct the value of a company-provided laptop from our terminated employee’s final paycheck if he doesn’t return it?

Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence (AI) has fundamentally altered how many employees perform their jobs, resulting in greater efficiency and increased productivity. Employers are seeking the use of AI to make their companies more productive and profitable.

While AI can be an extremely valuable tool in the workplace, its improper use may lead to costly mistakes and lawsuits for employers. Having a clear written policy on the use of AI in the workplace can help employees use such systems properly and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.

Continue reading →

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how organizations recruit, communicate, and operate. Unfortunately, the same tools that are streamlining HR workflows are also fueling a new wave of sophisticated scams. From deepfakes of CEO voices to fake job applicants submitting AI‑generated resumes, threat actors are exploiting AI to create more believable, personalized, and scalable attacks. For managers and HR teams, often the first line of communication with external candidates and vendors, understanding how these scams work can help offer a first line of defense against common, preventable scams.

Continue reading →

California Employee Leave Laws (Frequently Asked Questions) – California employers are obligated to comply with many state laws providing employee leave in a variety of situations. These answers to frequently asked questions address common issues raised by the state’s major leave compliance mandates.

Continue reading →

Ensuring employees receive proper meal periods and rest breaks is a foundational component of workplace compliance and employee well-being. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide meal periods and rest breaks for their employees. However, if an employer chooses to provide meal periods or rest breaks, the employer must comply with the FLSA’s meal periods and rest breaks requirements. As a general rule, rest breaks—breaks of five to 20 minutes—are considered hours worked, but bona fide meal breaks—breaks of 30 minutes or longer—are not covered under the FLSA.

Continue reading →

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires reasonable accommodations. Signed into law in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, the ADA applies to companies with 15 or more employees. We recently released the following 2 articles related to updated guidance and best practices related to the ADA:

Continue reading →

Question: Can I deny an employee’s PTO request?

Continue reading →

As organizations plan their compensation strategies each year, many are leaning toward a “peanut butter” approach to pay—spreading standardized annual wage increases evenly across employee groups. These modest, predictable adjustments have become more common as employers navigate economic uncertainty, tighter budgets, and a heightened focus on internal pay equity. While some years bring significant market- or performance-based pay adjustments, many employers have recently opted for more traditional, standardized raises, often citing economic uncertainty, tighter budgets, and the need for internal pay equity.

Continue reading →

California Family Care and Medical Leave Comparison Chart – California employers must comply with two comprehensive family and medical leave laws: the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the state California Family Rights Act (CFRA). This chart compares key features of the two laws. Note that additional state and local laws require employee leave for other purposes, such as the employee’s illness, bereavement, and pregnancy disability.

Continue reading →