The fires that have ravaged large swaths of homes and businesses in Los Angeles are likely to significantly alter the California commercial property insurance market. Policyholders may need to brace themselves for surging premiums, policy non-renewals and uncertainty. These wildfires will result in record payouts by insurers. Moody’s RMS estimates insured property losses from the […]
Employers with 10 or more employees must post their completed OSHA Form 300A by Feb. 1 and keep it posted in their workplace until April 30. The form must be posted where the company usually posts other employee notices, like minimum wage and workplace safety notices. Form 300A summarizes the total number of fatalities, missed […]
Employees who are unfamiliar with how to access care using their group health insurance can inflate your plan costs and how much they pay out of pocket. Those who may not use their health plan much, or at all, may end up going to the emergency room for an issue that could have been handled […]
As more people have been working remotely over the last few years, some employers have turned to employee-tracking software to ensure that these staff are working while on the clock, and to boost productivity. Tools like activity monitors and locations trackers, however, do not actually increase productivity and they can instead cause a backlash among […]
Cal/OSHA has issued a warning to employers located near the Los Angeles fires to take steps to protect their outdoor workers against unhealthy air quality. Wildfire smoke contains a number of harmful pollutants but the main danger to anyone outside in smoky conditions is particulate matter, which can lodge in the lungs. As well, with […]
An allegedly Chinese state-sponsored hacker campaign dubbed “Salt Typhoon” has infiltrated major cell phone providers, including AT&T and Verizon, potentially exposing your company’s communications to threat actors. The attack has been described as the most significant telecommunications hack in U.S. history. While the breach is alarming for individuals, the implications for businesses are profound and […]
6. PAGA reform In July 2024, Gov. Newsom signed into law two measures aimed at curbing rampant abuse of the Private Attorney General Act, which has become a costly thorn in the side of businesses in California. PAGA allows workers who allege they have suffered labor violations, like unpaid overtime or being denied mandatory meal […]
With 2025 now upon us, so is a slew of new laws and regulations that will affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2024 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another round of new legislation that […]
Linda is a junior partner in a law firm and drives a car that the firm owns and insures. The firm’s auto insurance covers her as a partner and she doesn’t own another car, so she sees no need to have her own policy. Most of the time, this is not a problem. However, spring […]
Since the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act took effect in June 2023, there’s been a huge spike in lawsuits against employers alleging failure to reasonably accommodate workers covered by the landmark legislation. In the first 11 months following enactment of the law, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 1,869 complaints from workers who allege their employer […]