Tag: James W. Ward

Biden Signs Law

New Federal Law Prohibits Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment, Assault Claims

On March 3, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021  (the Act), which amends...

Some Mask Rules Lifted for Vaccinated People, Rules Still in Place for Unvaccinated Individuals

California’s universal mask requirement for vaccinated individuals expired yesterday, but unvaccinated persons still are required to mask up in indoor public settings and businesses,...
Text sign showing Changes coming in 2022

New 2022 California Employment Laws

This year’s legislative session officially ended with Governor Newsom signing the last batch of bills over the weekend. The COVID-19 pandemic was still challenging...

California Court Ruling Could Complicate Background Checks

California employers should take note of a recent appellate court case that could complicate employment background checks. When conducting background checks, it’s common to search...

Protect Workers from Wildfire Smoke Exposure

We’re in the midst of California’s 2021 wildfire season, and given the state’s currently hot and dry climate, the California Department of Forestry and Fire...

COVID-19 Prevention Program Emergency Regulation Adopted

On November 19, 2020, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) voted to adopt a comprehensive and complex COVID-19 emergency regulation addressing a variety...
Capitol Insider

Independent Contractor or Employee? California’s Worker Classification Law Revised

Only last year California’s biggest labor law development was the new worker classification law, AB 5, which codified the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex ruling...

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Extended for COVID-19

Yesterday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Executive Order N-62-20 extending workers’ compensation benefits to employees who contract COVID-19 while working outside of their homes during...

Required FFCRA Documentation, Recordkeeping for New Federal Paid Leave (COVID-19)

The new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has dominated employers’ attention with its provisions for emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and...
The Workplace Podcast

Federal COVID-19 Leaves: Key Points

In this episode of The Workplace podcast, CalChamber Executive Vice President and General Counsel Erika Frank and employment law expert James Ward discuss key points and guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on the Families First Coronavirus Reponse Act (FCCRA), which takes effect today, April 1.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Passes

On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed additional emergency relief legislation known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act). Passed because...

California Consumer Privacy Act — Employers Need to Be Ready January 1

Starting January 1, 2020, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) significantly changes California’s consumer data collection rules and give consumers more control over how...

CalChamber Expands Legal Affairs Team with Additional Employment Law Experts

In the past year, the California Chamber of Commerce has added three new employment law experts to its legal affairs team to help explain...