By: Phillip J. Ebsworth and Natalie C. Kreeger
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Fourth Appellate District affirmed the trial court’s broad discretion to reduce PAGA civil penalties, holding that courts may use “any reasonable method” to reduce penalties and are not bound by any single calculation method — whether per pay period, per employee, or otherwise — and upheld the application of
Continue Reading PAGA Paraphrased – Taduran v. James R. Glidewell, Dental Ceramics, Inc.By: Petersen D. Walrod, Christina Jaremus, and Brett C. Bartlett
Seyfarth Synopsis: On May 28, 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published four new opinion letters, covering situations including: (1) whether an exempt worker may perform non-exempt work; (2) whether a bonus structured as a percent of total earnings needs to include an overtime “true up”; (3) whether
Continue Reading US Department of Labor Publishes Three Pro-Employer, One (Somewhat) Pro-Worker, Opinion LettersSeyfarth Synopsis: In 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) under the Biden administration started accepting public comments about the many petitions for waiver that key stakeholders, including the California Attorney General, had submitted. These petitions sought waivers from the FMCSA’s 2018 determination preempting California and Washington’s meal and rest break rules for truck drivers. Many commentators—including this
Continue Reading Waiver Goodbye – Continued FMCSA Preemption Of Meal And Rest Periods For California and Washington DriversBy: Clara L. Rademacher and Ryan McCoy
Seyfarth Synopsis: On December 26, 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) announced they would be accepting comments from the public in response to multiple petitions requesting waivers from the agency’s determinations preempting California and Washington’s meal and rest break rules. This includes the opportunity to respond to the California Attorney
Continue Reading FMCSA To Accept Public Comments In Response To Petitions Seeking Waiver Of Meal And Rest Period Preemption Determination On Behalf Of California And Washington DriversBy: Noah Finkel and Kyle Petersen
Seyfarth Synopsis: The DOL has issued guidance to its staff – that might be relied upon by courts – that any break less than 20 minutes while working from home is compensable time, regardless of the reason for the break.
Especially because this post is being released on a Friday, chances are that you
Continue Reading Not Remotely Helpful: DOL Issues Guidance on Compensability of Teleworking BreaksBy: Joseph Hadacek and Josh Rodine
Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Supreme Court recently determined that meal and rest period premium payments are subject to the final pay timing requirements of Labor Code section 203 and the wage statement reporting requirements of Labor Code section 226(e). Additionally, the prejudgment interest rate for violating these sections is seven percent. Naranjo v. Spectrum
Continue Reading California Supreme Court Finds Meal And Rest Premiums Subject To Wage Statement And Final Pay Requirements
By: Jeffrey A. Berman and Jennifer R. Nunez
Seyfarth Synopsis: An unpublished Ninth Circuit opinion has held that an employer need not pay employees for time spent undergoing government-required security checks en route to their worksite within the Los Angeles International Airport. Cazares v. Host International, Inc.
The Facts
Jesus Cazares, an attendant in the Admirals Club lounge at the
Continue Reading How Much Time To Budget For Getting Through Security?
By: Jennifer R. Nunez and David D. Kadue
Seyfarth Synopsis: In Donohue v. AMN Services, LLC, a class action seeking meal period premium pay, the California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal and held that employers cannot engage in the practice of rounding time punches in the meal period context, and that time records showing noncompliant meal periods raise
By: Ryan McCoy
Seyfarth Synopsis: Following the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s determination in December 2018 that federal law preempts California’s meal and rest break rules, observers questioned whether California courts would find that the preemption was valid. Shortly after the determination was issued, the State of California and several other groups appealed directly to the Ninth Circuit, arguing the
Continue Reading Ninth Circuit Upholds FMCSA Preemption of California’s Meal and Rest Break Rules For Drivers
By: Brian A. Wadsworth and Andrew L. Scroggins
As COVID-19 cases surge again in the United States, state and local governments continue to recommend or require remote work arrangements, and some employers have already announced plans to permit remote work to continue well into 2021 and even beyond.
Remote work is not new, and many of its challenges such as
Continue Reading As COVID-Driven Remote Work Arrangements Continue, Wage and Hour Compliance Challenges Grow