Teresa McQueen, Author at Western Growers Association Western Growers Association

Teresa McQueen

Western Growers, Corporate Counsel III

Teresa McQueen is Corporate Counsel III for Western Growers. In that capacity she provides advice and counsel to the organization on employment law matters and commercial trade practices. She also provides legal guidance to Western Growers members on employment law, human resources, and commercial agreements, as well as providing law-related educational opportunities and overseeing annual […]

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Posts By: Teresa McQueen

New Cemex Ruling Challenges NLRB Authority

As discussed here, the 2023 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board) ruling in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC (Cemex) deviated significantly from decades-long precedent regarding the voluntary nature of card check recognition. In Cemex, the Board found that the employer’s anti-union activity so tainted the election that its only remedy was to set aside the election…

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CA Compliance Deadline: Emergency Contact Notification Required by March 30, 2026

As discussed here, California’s SB 294—officially titled the Workplace Know Your Rights Act (the Act) and signed into law on October 12, 2025—aims to ensure that California employees are fully informed of their rights in the workplace, particularly in areas involving labor protections, immigration-related inspections, union activity, and constitutional rights during law enforcement…

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Best Practices: Empathy As A Leadership Tool

Empathy: “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feels, thoughts, and experience of another….” The ability to take on the role of someone who says: “I may not know how you feel, but I’m here to listen.” A time consuming and potentially messy workplace skill set, but one that is infinitely useful if you are someone who manages…

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Cal/OSHA Reminds Employers To Protect Workers From Heat Illness During Heat Wave

Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers to protect workers from heat illness at outdoor and indoor workplaces as heat waves are forecast across California this week. As California experiences more frequent and severe weather patterns, heat events are extending earlier into the year. Employers must remain vigilant in protecting workers and be prepared for any increase in temperatures. The…

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Best Practices: AI-Assisted Performance Evaluations: How Managers Can Use It Well (and Avoid the Traps)

Performance review season puts a spotlight on how managers document results, development, and expectations. This period is critical for both managers and employees as they assess achievements, set future goals, and provide constructive feedback. As annual or biannual reviews approach, leaders are seeking effective strategies to streamline the process and ensure evaluations are fair, thorough,…

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Guidelines for Youth Employment in Agriculture

Every year, millions of teens work part-time or summer jobs. In California and Arizona many of those jobs are agriculture related. These early job experiences can be valuable for young people, giving teenagers meaningful chances to develop essential work skills. It is important for employers to recognize and be familiar with state and federal child labor laws ensuring minors receive…

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California Pay Data Reporting is Open

As a reminder, on February 2, 2026, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) announced the opening the pay data reporting portal for data from 2025. Under California law, private employers of 100 or more employees or workers hired through labor contractors are required to report pay, demographic, and other workforce data to the state each year. The deadline for employers to file…

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NLRB Issues New Case Handling Guidance

On February 27, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board’s Office of the General Counsel issued a new Case Handling Guidance memorandum (GC Memo) outlining updated expectations for how Regions investigate, resolve, and prioritize unfair labor practice cases. For employers, the GC Memo signals a more streamlined and pragmatic enforcement approach to enforcement, with increased…

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NLRB Publishes Final Rule Restating 2020 Joint Employer Standard

On February 27, 2026, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) published a final rule withdrawing its 2023 joint employer standard and formally restoring the prior rule governing joint employer status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The rule took effect immediately upon publication and reinstates the regulatory text originally promulgated in February 2020. How the…

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