Teresa McQueen
Western Growers, Corporate Counsel

Teresa McQueen is Corporate Counsel 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 updates […]

Posts By: Teresa McQueen

Pay Equity – A Cautionary Tale

Google has agreed to pay $118 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging violations of California’s Equal Pay Act and Unfair Competition laws.  The lawsuit dates back to September 2017 when three former Google employees filed a class action litigation accusing the tech giant of systematic discrimination based on sex. Specifically, the suit alleges ...

When Neutral Isn’t Enough: California Invited to Revisit Rounding

In the recent case of Camp v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc (October 2022), California’s Sixth Circuit Court of Appeal invites the California Supreme Court to review and refine its application of California’s long-standing approval of facially neutral rounding policies. At issue in the case was a challenge to the employer’s application of its allegedly neutral ...

Colorado Passes New Anti-Discrimination/Retaliation Legislation

A new Colorado law (SB 22-161) will make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate or retaliate against an employee who files a complaint or initiates any proceeding under state/federal laws, or testifies or provides evidence (in their own or another’s case), relating to wages or hours worked. Violations of this new law can lead ...

CFRA Changes: What Defines a “Designated Person?”

The California Family Rights Act provides a qualified employee the opportunity to request protected leave – up to a total of 12 workweeks in any 12-month period – for family care and medical leave. Employees may take protected time off for their own serious health condition or that of a family member. Various changes over ...

Best Practices: An Effective Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)

California law requires an employer to establish, implement, and maintain written safety and health programs that are very important for maintain safety in agricultural field operations. An effective safety and health program can help an employer lower risk and better manage work-related injuries and illnesses. Recognition for safe work practices and a positive environment where ...

Colorado To Allow Regulated Use of Psychedelic Mushrooms

A newly passed Colorado initiative to decriminalize possession and limited use of psychedelic mushrooms and other plant-based psychedelic drugs was passed by Colorado voters on November 8, 2022. Known as the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022, the ballot initiative will allow supervised use of two specific compounds, psilocybin and psilocin, found in psychedelic mushrooms ...

Cal/OSHA Removes ‘Exclusion Pay’ from Non-Emergency COVID-19 Standard

Cal/OSHA has announced it will be dropping ‘exclusion pay’ from its forthcoming Non-Emergency COVID-19 Standard. It was anticipated that a decision concerning exclusion pay would be made in time to allow a seamless transition at the end of this year when the existing Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) expire.   The October Cal/OSHA Standards ...