SEMINARS Archive - Castle Publications, LLC

Wage and Hour Laws

In Person at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 924 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia
Or Live Broadcast
9:00am-4:30pm PST
12:00pm-7:30pm EST

COURSE FACULTY
Richard J. Simmons
& Tyler J. Johnson, Attorneys
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Los Angeles, California

Richard Simmons is the author of the text used in the program. He represents employers in various labor relations matters involving state and federal wage and hour laws, proposed class actions, wrongful discharge, employment discrimination, employee discipline and termination, employee benefits, and contract arbitrations. He has successfully argued before the California Supreme Court and appellate and trial courts in California and other parts of the country.

Richard was recently recognized as the “Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal and was inducted into the Employment Lawyers Hall of Fame.

Tyler Johnson represents employers in all facets of the litigation and trial process, in California and federal courts. He is a co-author of the 2023 edition of the California’s Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Litigation and Compliance Manual and is also a contributing author to the California Labor and Employment ALERT Newsletter and the Sheppard Mullin Labor and Employment Law Blog.

He received his J.D. from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif and his B.A. from University of Maryland, summa cum laude.

This program will address the federal and California wage and hour laws, including changes and developments in the field. It is a unique one-day seminar that employers, HR officials, controllers, attorneys, payroll professionals, accountants, consultants and supervisors attend each year. This year attendees will receive a copy of the NEW 2024 WAGE AND HOUR MANUAL FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS* by Attorney Richard J. Simmons (over 1,060 pages). The book is absolutely the best resource on the topic, has been cited by courts and the enforcement agencies as an authoritative text, and is widely recognized as the leading text in its field.

Among the many subjects that will be discussed in the program are the following:

Detailed assessment of newly enacted PAGA reform measures
DOL’s new independent contractor rule
Expanded paid sick leave benefits
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and the rising trends in Class Action Lawsuits
Time rounding issues and cases
New minimum wages for fast food and healthcare workers
Amended Wage Theft Notice requirements
Meal and rest period exemptions
DOL rules on regular rate of pay
Supreme Court Decisions on bonuses, timekeeping rules and the de minimis doctrine
Meal and rest period rules – Landmark decisions
Overtime, flexible scheduling, meal period, exemption, and comp time standards
Hours worked rules
Labor Commission Rules – Travel time, wage payment requirements
Federal exemptions – status of changes
State overtime rules
Government employer coverage under FLSA
Flexible scheduling techniques – new rules
10-Hour Shifts, 12-Hour Shifts and 9/80 Schedules
Pay stub and itemized wage statement issues
4 and 4-1/2 day weeks
Minimum wage increases
Make-up time rules and forms
Payday rules
Expense reimbursements
Vacation benefits
Class action litigation
Waiting time penalties – payments on termination of employment
Relationships with volunteers and trainees
Exemptions for executive, administrative, professional, outside sales employees
Salary level and salary basis tests
Audits and inspections by State Labor Commissioner and Federal Wage and Hour Division
Reimbursement and indemnification rules
Recent court decisions – major cases affecting all California employers
Kin-care rules
Off-the-clock work issues – time shaving
Severance pay issues
Sales representative rules
Reporting time pay
Government contractor laws
Liquidated damages rules
New Labor Code changes
Uniform requirements
Wage payment rules
Record-keeping and time-keeping requirements
Child labor
Wage Theft Prevention Act
Legislative activity
Bonuses and commissions
Holiday pay
Final pay requirements
Shift differentials
Questions and answers

* If attending virtually, the print copy Wage and Hour Manual will be shipped prior to the program date. If attending in person, the Manual will be issued at the program. The electronic copy is also available for an additional fee. See registration page for more details.

MCLE Credit

This activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 6 hours by the State Bar of California. Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing minimum continuing legal education.

SHRM Credit

Castle Publications is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM℠ or SHRM-SCPSM℠. This program is valid for 6 PDCs for the SHRM-CPSM℠ or SHRM-SCPSM℠. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit https://www.shrm.org/pages/default.aspx.

HRCI Credit

The HR Certification Institute has pre-approved this activity for 6 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ certifications. The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

APA Credit

The American Payroll Association has approved this activity for 6.0 RCHs toward CPP and FPC certifications.

Employment Discrimination And Employee Relations Laws

In Person at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 924 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia
Or Live Broadcast
9:00am-4:30pm PST
12:00pm-7:30pm EST

COURSE FACULTY
Richard J. Simmons
& Hilary A. Habib, Attorneys & Partners
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Los Angeles, California

Richard was recently recognized as the “Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal and was inducted into the Employment Lawyers Hall of Fame.

Hilary Habib handles all facets of the litigation process in labor and employment disputes. Ms. Habib has experience in defending complex wage and hour class actions, including rounding claims, claims for overtime pay, and meal and rest period violations. She also represents employers before state and federal administrative agencies, such as the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Hilary is also a contributing author to the California Labor and Employment ALERT Newsletter. Ms. Habib received her J.D. from the University of Southern California and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

This seminar is designed to guide participants through the ever-changing maze of state and federal employment discrimination laws. The program is attended by HR professionals, personnel specialists, attorneys, owners, supervisors and other management officials. Registrants will receive a copy of Richard J. Simmons’ NEW 2024 EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION AND EEO PRACTICE MANUAL FOR CALIFORNIA EMPLOYERS (over 910 pages)* . This is the first work of its kind — a one-stop desk reference to state and federal EEO, employment discrimination, anti-harassment, and record retention laws affecting California employers.

The program will also examine other personnel laws and issues of significance to California employers. The rapidly developing laws addressing disability discrimination, reasonable accommodation, harassment, retaliation, pregnancy discrimination, “wrongful discharge” and “unfair termination” of employees will be examined. Simmons’ book provides a detailed review of the means by which employers can AVOID LIABILITIES in this area. Employers have been found liable for millions of dollars in damages for wrongfully terminating employees.

The course will also present a review of questions that can be asked in interviews and applications, and how to treat employees on pregnancy and workers’ compensation leaves of absence.

Among the many subjects that will be discussed in the program are the following:

US Supreme Court decisions defining the scope of Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws
New Reproductive Loss Leave
Pre-employment inquiries in interviews and applications on Cannabis Use
Expanded whistleblower retaliation rights
Rules on punitive, exemplary, and emotional distress damages
New Bereavement Leave
Sexual harassment — recent changes to the law and training rules
Salary history rules
Pregnancy leave regulations, transfer rules, and notification obligations
California CRD developments and FEHA regulations
Disability discrimination — New state rules, decisions defining covered "disabilities" and employer obligations
Wrongful termination — employer pitfalls, safeguards, and defensive practices
Complaint procedures — liabilities and remedies
Age discrimination — new issues — jury trials — liabilities
Americans With Disabilities Act and EEOC Guidance
Older Workers Benefit Protection Act and regulations
Impact of California’s Marijuana Legalization Reforms
State law protections for employees with alcohol and drug addictions
Reasonable accommodations and the interactive process
Sexual preference, orientation, and gender identity protections
Equal Pay Laws
English-only rules and updated regulations
Dress and grooming standards
Mental disability rules — scope of protection for mental disorders, alcoholism, and drug addiction
Workers’ compensation leaves of absence — job retention rights — continuation of benefits and insurance — duration of leaves
Immigration concerns of employers
Emotional distress claims
Hiring practices
Defending cases before the EEOC and CRD
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Defenses and strategies
Common pitfalls and areas of exposure
Inspection of personnel files
Disciplinary action and interviews
Defamation issues and recent amendments
Blacklisting and misrepresentation laws
Communication skills rules
Telecommuting and work-from-home accommodations
Damages & Remedies
Statutory Amendments
Other significant issues
Questions and answers

* If attending virtually, the print copy of the Employment Discrimination and EEO Practice Manual will be shipped prior to the program date. If attending in person, the Manual will be issued at the program. The electronic copy is also available for an additional fee. See registration page for more details.

MCLE Credit

SHRM Credit

HRCI Credit

Employee Handbook And Personnel Policies

In Person at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 924 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia
Or Live Broadcast
9:00am-4:30pm PST
12:00pm-7:30pm EST

COURSE FACULTY
Richard J. Simmons
& Bryanne Lewis, Attorneys
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Los Angeles, California

Richard was recently recognized as the “Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal and was inducted into the Employment Lawyers Hall of Fame.

Bryanne Lewis is an attorney in Sheppard Mullin’s Los Angeles office. She represents employers in employment matters, including wage and hour class and representative actions, and discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination actions. Bryanne also counsels employers on a broad range of employment-related issues, including wage and hour issues, leaves of absence and accommodations, and personnel decisions.

Bryanne received her J.D. from the Loyola School of Law, cum laude, and her B.A. from Loyola Marymount University.

The Employee Handbook and Personnel Policies Program will feature Richard Simmons’ popular desk reference, the Employee Handbook And Personnel Policies Manual*. It provides a unique examination of the state and federal laws that regulate personnel policies and employee handbooks. Mr. Simmons will discuss sample policies that can be of enormous value to employers in their efforts to avoid and defend wrongful discharge, leaves of absence, discrimination, wage-hour and other claims. Handbooks and personnel policies are viewed as legal documents. Most experts feel they are necessary. Yet, they create contractual and other legal obligations. In addition, because they are often introduced as evidence in legal disputes, it is essential that they be well drafted.

This seminar will examine the legal and practical issues associated with employee handbooks. It will discuss the proper approach to drafting policies that will implement employers’ objectives while safeguarding their interests. The program text includes more than 460 sample policies, including policies on termination, progressive discipline, at-will employment, teleworking, cell phones, vacation benefits, sick pay, leaves of absence, social media, reference requests, and performance evaluations, among others.

You will not want to miss this invaluable workshop. The Employee Handbook And Personnel Policies Manual (over 810 pages) is an indispensable resource that has received national acclaim and is valuable for employers in all industries.

Among the many subjects that will be discussed in the program are the following:

The Essential Policies
Family and Medical Leaves
New Bereavement Leave Policies
Benefit disclaimers
California’s Paid Family Leave Law
Progressive and corrective discipline policies
The role and use of at-will statements
Meal and rest period policies reflecting new standards
Drafting time off and leave of absence policies based on changes
Organ And Bone Marrow Donor Leaves
Desk and locker inspection policies
Workplace security and violence prevention
Laws regulating employee handbooks and personnel policies
New sick leave and vacation policies
Advantages and disadvantages of handbooks
Sanitizing policies of harmful statements
Electronic communications policies
COBRA policies
Contract issues and disclaimers
Right to revise and modify policies
Probationary, introductory and orientation periods
Format and style
Grievance procedures
Multi-state employers
Drug and alcohol screening, detection, and prohibition policies
Termination for cause vs. at will
New Pay Scales & Equal Pay Policies
Social media policies
Over 20 kinds of protected time off
Policies prohibiting sexual harassment, retaliation and other types of unlawful harassment
Changes to existing policies — if, when, and how you can implement changes
Wage and hour and employment discrimination issues
Arbitration Provisions
Medical leave of absence policies — pregnancy, work-related, and nonoccupational disability leaves
Employee classifications — full-time, part-time, temporary, per-diem, and others
Independent contractors
Cell phone and expense reimbursements
Employee benefit requirements, descriptions, and guidelines
Holiday and paid time off benefits
Severance pay and pay in lieu of notice
Voicemail and computer access policies
Payroll and compensation policies – compensatory time off policies
Standards of conduct
State-of-mind disciplinary offenses
Acknowledgement of receipt forms
Reference request policies and releases
Conflict of interest and confidentiality policies
Questions and answers

* If attending virtually, the print copy of the Employee Handbook and Personnel Policies Manual will be shipped prior to the program date. If attending in person, the Manual will be issued at the program. The electronic copy is also available for an additional fee. See registration page for more details.