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 […]
Posts By: Teresa McQueen
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Best Practices: Attendance Policies Still Matter
A recent federal court decision highlights an important takeaway for employers: consistently enforced attendance policies and well-documented decision-making can be a strong defense against discrimination and retaliation claims. At issue in the case was whether the employee’s termination was based on consistently documented attendance policy violations as opposed to allegedly discriminatory…
California Executive Order Signals Increased Scrutiny of AI’s Impact on the Workforce
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued Executive Order N-6-26 (EO), directing state agencies to evaluate how Artificial Intelligence (AI) may affect workers, businesses, and communities across the state. While the order does not impose any immediate legal obligations on private employers, it signals California’s growing focus on the workplace impacts of AI and could shape…
Best Practices for CA and AZ Employers: Donning and Doffing
“Donning and doffing” refers to the time employees spend putting on and removing required clothing, protective equipment, safety gear, or other work-related items. Whether this time must be paid can present significant compliance challenges for employers under both federal and state wage and hour laws. Because compensability depends heavily on the specific facts and circumstances of the…
EEOC Requests Recission Review of EEO-1 Reporting Requirements
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has submitted a regulatory review request to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) that could eventually lead to the rescission of certain long-standing EEO data collection requirements, including EEO-1 reporting obligations. EEO-1 reports are currently required from private employers with 100 or more employees and certain…
DOL Formally Rescinds the 2024 Federal Overtime Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has formally rescinded the 2024 federal overtime rule. In a final rule published May 15, 2026, the DOL removed the 2024 changes from the federal overtime regulations and restored the prior exemption standards established under the 2019 rule. The recission is a technical correction accounting for changes in the law that have already…
Best Practices: When Workplace Policies Create Compliance Risk
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) recently announced a $300,000 settlement with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) over allegations that the university failed to properly respond to an employee’s request for a remote work accommodation related to a disability. Beyond the financial settlement, the case serves as an important reminder that employers should regularly…
July 1 Deadline Fast Approaching for CA Workplace Violence Training
For many employers, July 1 marks the annual deadline for California workplace violence prevention training compliance. Ahead of this fast-approaching deadline, impacted employers should review their Workplace Violence Prevention Plans (WVPPs) and begin scheduling required employee training. Under California Labor Code section 6401.9 (SB 553), employers must establish, implement,…
Missed the May 13 Pay Data Reporting Deadline? Here’s What to Do Next
California employers covered by the state’s pay data reporting requirements are reminded that annual pay data reports to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) were due May 13, 2026. Employers that have not yet submitted their reports should act quickly to complete their filings. California law requires private employers with 100 or more payroll employees, including employers…
Navigating Recent USCIS Changes: Updated I-9 Audit Review Essentials (June 10 Webinar)
Join us for a live webinar designed to help agricultural operations understand and respond to the latest updates from USCIS regarding the I-9 audit review process. Presented by Western Growers Association’s Corporate Counsel, Teresa McQueen, this program will cover the new standards introduced by USCIS and offer employers practical guidance to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with…
Best Practices: The Cost of Reactive Rulemaking
Implementing or amending workplace policies as a reaction to a single event, without conducting a thorough compliance review, can expose employers to considerable liability. This is best illustrated by the California Civil Rights Department's recent settlement of $255,000 regarding an individual claim involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation based on national…