On November 4, 2014, voters overwhelmingly approved ballot initiatives aimed at raising the minimum wage in various San Francisco Bay Area cities.More than 80% of voters supported Proposition J, which raises the minimum wage for work performed in San Francisco to $12.25 per hour by May 1, 2015, $13… Read More
Effective July 15, 2015, all California employers regardless of size will be required to provide up to 3 days of paid sick leave for eligible part-time and full-time employees. On September 10, 2014, Governor Brown signed the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (Assembly Bill No.… Read More
A Letter to the Editor by John Domingue, Partner, Berliner Cohen, has been published in the September 2014 issue of California Lawyer. His letter is in response to the article, “Anger: A Frontal Approach,” which appeared in the magazine’s June 2014 issue. The… Read More
“When an employee requests a leave of absence because of a disability, employers have two separate duties: 1) interact with the employee; and 2) provide a defined period of leave so that the employee can obtain treatment and recover, as a reasonable accommodation. But if that employee… Read More
"Embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion and commercial bribery are common white-collar crimes that authorities regularly investigate. Oftentimes these alleged crimes happen without executives even knowing someone in their organization is committing them. However, ignorance does not… Read More
Andrew L. Faber, Berliner Cohen Partner, has authored an article entitled “CEQA abuse on the rise: What businesses should know if a project needs discretionary permits,” in Smart Business Online, which discusses how CEQA can affect a business, CEQA misuse, and the approach to take when… Read More
Laura Palazzolo, Berliner Cohen attorney, recently authored an article in Smart Business Online, focusing on "ADA Compliance: How to Meet Accessibility Requirements and Avoid Lawsuits.” Smart Business spoke with Palazzolo about what businesses can do to protect themselves from lawsuits and… Read More
The Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program, as a result of California SB 1339 (effective March 26, 2014), requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer a commuter benefit by September 30, 2014, to their employees who work 20+ hours per week. Click here for the Employer Guide, which… Read More
Tyler A. Shewey, Berliner Cohen attorney, recently authored an article in Smart Business Online, focusing on "Taxing Issues: How to Handle Three Hot Issues for 2014.” Smart Business spoke with Shewey about three tax issues that are receiving more attention in 2014 from the IRS: sales and use… Read More
On February 10, 2014, the Treasury Department issued new rules that provide a grace period for all employers of over 50 full-time equivalent ("FTE") employees to comply with the Affordable Care Act's ("ACA") "employer mandate."Mid-size employers of 50-99 FTE employees have been given an extra year… Read More
While tax laws continue to affect estate plans, protection of assets has become an increasing priority as baby boomers age. “There’s been a lot more conversation in the last five years about asset protection, not just about the client’s assets, but also about protecting the assets the… Read More
In 2014, California employers should focus on planning, policies and practices and consider the following legal issues:Effective July 1, 2014, the California statewide minimum wage will increase to $9.00/hour, with a further increase to $10.00/hour on January 1, 2016. As of July 1, all California… Read More
A new section of the California Retail Food Code scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2014, requiring foodservice workers to use disposable gloves or utensils when handling ready-to-eat foods will not be strictly enforced for the first six months of 2014. The change was included in AB 1252, which… Read More
As we approach the end of 2013, we thought it a good idea to summarize some of the significant tax law changes affecting our clients and give some insight as to the different estate planning trends we are seeing among our clients. Topics covered in this article: Estate, Income and Gift Tax Law… Read More
Effective December 30, 2012, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission issued new pregnancy discrimination regulations. These regulations provide guidance to employers about their obligations to pregnant employees and applicants.California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) defines… Read More