California Employment News: Navigating ICE’s Updated I-9 Audit Guidelines: What Employers Need to Know
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has released revised audit guidelines that tighten I‑9 verification standards for employers. The new rules reclassify several common documentation errors—such as missing signatures or outdated forms—as “material violations,” which can trigger higher fines and more frequent inspections. Weintraub Tobin attorneys Shauna Correia and Meagan Bainbridge explain the changes in a recent California Employment News podcast, outlining steps employers should take to avoid penalties. The episode is available on YouTube and as a podcast.
California Employment News: Considerations for Employee Termination
Weintraub Tobin attorneys Nikki Mahmoudi and John Slavik explain California’s employee‑termination landscape, stressing the legal risks of careless dismissals. They outline the state’s at‑will doctrine nuances, required documentation, and compliance steps employers must follow. The episode offers practical guidance on final‑pay timing,...
California Employment News: Document Checklist for Departing Employees
California employers face strict legal duties when an employee separates, including immediate payment of all earned wages and accrued vacation. The Weintraub Tobin podcast outlines the specific final‑pay timelines and the mandatory notices such as COBRA, WARN and wage‑statement disclosures....
California Employment News: Navigating AI Compliance: Employer Best Practices Pt. 2
In a recent episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin partners Meagan D. Bainbridge and Jackie Simonovich outline how California employers can responsibly adopt artificial intelligence in hiring, performance management, and other workplace decisions. They stress the need for clear...
California Employment News: Navigating AI Compliance: Employer Best Practices Pt.1
California employers are confronting new AI regulations that could expose them to discrimination claims. Weintraub Tobin attorneys explain how AI tools used in hiring, performance management, and monitoring may trigger Title VII, the ADA, and the state’s Fair Employment and...
All Sizzle, No Safety Net: The Legal Risks of Restaurant Stages
California’s labor laws deem most unpaid restaurant stages illegal, classifying participants as employees entitled to minimum wage and overtime. The DLSE has repeatedly ruled that trial shifts, even when labeled as internships or auditions, violate wage‑order requirements and expose owners...
California Employment News: California AB 692 Cuts Back “Stay or Pay” Contracts with Workers
California Assembly Bill 692 curtails the use of “stay or pay” provisions that require employees to remain employed or reimburse training costs. The law mandates that any repayment terms be narrowly limited to actual training expenses and be disclosed in...
Employer Compliance Update: Qualified Overtime and Tip Reporting After the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act
On July 4, 2025, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) became law, imposing new employer tax reporting requirements for qualified overtime and tipped earnings. Employers must now report qualified overtime compensation and qualified tips separately on employees’ Form W‑2,...
California Employment News: Employee Benefits 101
In a recent episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin partners Chris Horsley and Ryan Abernethy unpack employer obligations surrounding 401(k) retirement plans, the state‑mandated CalSavers program, and health benefit requirements. They explain fiduciary duties, contribution timelines, and the criteria...
California Employment News: SB 513 and Personnel File Requirements
California's SB 513, which took effect on January 1 2026, clarifies the mandatory contents of employee personnel files. The statute enumerates specific documents—such as hiring applications, performance evaluations, and disciplinary records—that must be retained. Employers are required to keep these files for...