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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New Cal/OSHA Regulation Mandates Opioid Antidotes in First Aid Materials (AB 1976)
California’s newly enacted AB 1976 requires the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) to adopt new standards requiring first aid materials in workplaces to include naloxone hydrochloride or other FDA-approved opioid antidote. Naloxone is a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses. Cal/OSHA has until December 1, 2027, to draft and propose the new…
SB 1100: New Two-Part Test for Driver’s License Requirement in Hiring
California’s Senate Bill 1100 (SB 1100) amends the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) by introducing a new two-part test governing when an employer may require a job applicant to possess a driver’s license. Beginning January 1, 2025, before including a statement in a job advertisement, posting, application or other hiring materials that an applicant must have a driver's…
DOL Provides AI Framework to Assist in Reducing Risks Associated with AI Technology
The U.S Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has been actively addressing the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and disability in employment. The DOL’s efforts are in response to President Biden’s 2023 Executive Order directing federal agencies to begin finding ways to address important AI-related workplace issues. Below are a few key aspects…
SB 1137: California Law Now Recognizes “Intersectionality” In Workplace Discrimination Claims
California Senate Bill 1137 (SB 1137) amends the state's anti-discrimination laws to specifically address claims based on a combination of protected characteristics, or “intersectionality” in California’s civil rights laws. Intersectionality conceptualizes how different social identities intersect and at times overlap to create unique instances of discrimination; not just on a…
California’s SB 1105: New Paid Sick Leave Provisions for Ag Employees
Senate Bill (SB) 1105 introduces significant changes to existing paid sick leave provisions for agricultural employees in California. Effective January 1, 2025, the bill expands the paid sick leave benefits offered under the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2024 for agricultural employees. Key Points SB 1105 supplements the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014…
The New CA Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act (SB 399)
Senate Bill (SB) 399, recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, enacts the California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act. Effective January 1, 2025, this law prohibits employers from holding mandatory meetings, known as "captive audience," meetings, that discuss religious or political matters, including union-representation discussions. Key Points SB 399 makes it…
California Employer Election Day Notice and Leave Requirements
California Elections Code section 14001 mandates that all employers inform employees about their rights to take paid leave for voting in statewide elections. Here are the key points: Notice Posting: Employers must post an Election Day notice 10 days before a statewide election. This Election Day notice must be posted by Saturday, October 26, 2024. The Notice should be visible in the…
Best Practices: Effectively Managing Remote and Hybrid Employees
In today's evolving work environment, managing remote and hybrid employees has become a critical skill for employers. The shift towards flexible work arrangements offers numerous benefits, but it also presents unique challenges that require thoughtful strategies to ensure productivity and employee satisfaction. Below are a few key goals for effectively managing your remote and hybrid…
School-Related Leave Reminders for California Employers
As we head into a new academic year, California employers are reminded that caregivers and employees with children are entitled to time off to care for sick children and attend school-related activities. School Activity Leave Under California Labor Code Section 230.8, employers with 25 or more employees at a single location must provide parents, guardians, or grandparents with custody…
Fifth Circuit Upholds DOL Authority to Establish Overtime Thresholds
As discussed here and here, a new federal overtime rule raising the salary threshold for overtime exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) took effect July 1, 2024, with a second phase increase scheduled for January 1, 2025. In the wake of this most recent increase, litigation commenced to challenge the Department of Labor’s (DOL) authority to increase the minimum salary…
Best Practices: Classifying Workers
One of the most important decisions an employer makes regarding its workforce is worker classification. Misclassification of workers is one of the costliest mistakes an employer can make. Penalties for misclassification can quickly multiply and produce significant losses. Federal and state enforcement efforts have produced an increase in agency led audits, employee class action and collective…
OSHA Announces Public Comment Period for Rule to Protect Indoor, Outdoor Workers from Dangers of Extreme Heat
On August 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the opening of the public comment period for its proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule and its publication in the Federal Register. The rule was announced in July 2024 by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in an effort to substantially…
Social Media and Harassment: Ninth Circuit Ruling Expands Employer Liability
A recent decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals offers crucial guidance for employers on the intersection of social media conduct and workplace harassment. In Okonowsky v. Garland, the Court reversed a district court’s dismissal of a sex discrimination claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, allowing the case to move forward to trial. The plaintiff, a female…
California Certifies Minimum Wage Increase for 2025
The California Labor Code mandates the state’s Director of Finance annually determine and certify whether an adjustment for inflation should be applied to the minimum wage once it reaches $15.00 per hour. California’s minimum wage is currently $16.00 per hour. This year, the Department of Finance calculates that the average U.S. Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical…
Beware of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Timekeeping Traps
State and federal wage and hour laws work in tandem to ensure that employers are paying their employees for all hours worked. A very straightforward concept that is fraught with traps for the unwary. The latest pitfall? Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered time tracking. Increasingly, AI is being used to automate timekeeping duties such as tracking when workers sign in and out of work and…
NLRB Rejects Consent Orders and Reemphasizes Bilateral Settlement Agreements
The National Labor Relations Board (Board) continues its shift toward pro-union and pro-employee policies. In the recent case Metro Health, Inc., d/b/a Hospital Metropolitano Rio San Pedras, the Board ended its long-term practice of accepting consent orders as a means of resolving unfair labor practice charges. For over 30 years, the Board has allowed parties to resolve unfair labor…
Best Practices: Mitigating Risk Under the FEHA
The recent California Supreme Court case of Twanda Bailey v. San Francisco District Attorney’s Office highlights the importance of employers taking proactive measures to prevent and address harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in the workplace. The questions before the Court were: Whether a coworker’s one-time use of a racial slur may be actionable in a claim of…
Understanding Retaliation Claims: A Case Study
In the recent case DOL v. Bevins & Son, Inc., et., al., a Vermont court addressed allegations of unlawful retaliation against employees who received back wages after a settlement with the Department of Labor (DOL). The outcome provides valuable insights for all employers on how to avoid retaliation claims and ensuring compliance with labor laws. Bevins & Son, a Vermont-based…
AB 2011 Extends California’s Small Employer Family Leave Mediation Pilot Program
Signed into law July 18, 2024, California Assembly Bill 2011 (AB 2011) significantly expands the scope of the Civil Rights Department’s (CRD) existing Small Employer Family Leave Mediation Program and extends its operation indefinitely. Key Provisions AB 2011 primarily focuses on unlawful employment practices related to family leave and reproductive loss leave for small employers…
Best Practices: Navigating Political Speech in the Workplace
As the 2024 election approaches and political polarization in the U.S. intensifies, the impact of varying political beliefs on the workplace is becoming more pronounced. While protections for workplace discrimination based on protected classifications are well known to most employers, the boundary on political speech is not. California law prohibits employers from acting against their…