Under state and federal law, most workers must be paid a minimum wage for all hours worked. California has enacted one of the country’s highest minimum wages, which will eventually hit $15.50 an hour for the State’s employees. The minimum wage applies to temporary workers as well as workers who are...
With the COVID-19 virus still ravaging our communities, the issue of employment sick leave takes on even greater importance for employees, who face a daily struggle with the virus and other health issues. We previously posted about COVID-19-related employment issues; this post discusses sick leave more generally, but is...
On December 22, 2020, the SEC awarded a whistleblower more than $1.6 million for providing a tip which directly led to a successful enforcement action. Whistleblowers Are Key to Fighting Corporate Fraud The whistleblower produced crucial information and personal knowledge about an ongoing fraudulent scheme, while offering extensive assistance...
Last week, we blogged about a question we’ve been getting a lot during the pandemic: do I have rights as a pregnant mother under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)? The answer was complicated because the law doesn’t apply to many (even most) employers and pregnancy per se doesn’t...
On December 18, the Justice Department announced that drug company Biogen, Inc., agreed to pay $22 million to settle a False Claims Act case related to Medicare fraud. Charities Used to Hide Copay Kickbacks When a Medicare patient buys a prescription drug covered by Medicare, they may have to...
On December 18, 2020, the SEC announced three different whistleblower awards totaling over $3.6 million. Because the SEC does not disclose details about its whistleblower awards unless the enforcement action is public, there is no information about the cases themselves except for the SEC’s bare-bones press release. (This is...
On December 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had awarded more than $300,000 to a whistleblower for sharing information that lead to a successful enforcement action. Audit Professionals Often Have Information About Illegal Practices The whistleblower became aware of the potential securities law violations in connection...
As leading pregnancy discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles, workers often contact our firm wondering how they prove pregnancy discrimination. The answer requires a basic understanding of the laws protecting pregnant women and new mothers. If this brief guide does not answer your questions, our experienced pregnancy discrimination lawyers can...
The CDC advises that pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk for severe illness due to COVID-19, as well as “other adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth.” Because of these risks, most doctors will advise pregnant women to take special precautions to protect themselves and their babies by...
A study conducted by the Ethics Resource Center found that 62 million Americans have witnessed fraud or misconduct at work. Whistleblowers are key to combatting this widespread corporate corruption. Many people who see corporate wrongdoing rightfully fear that speaking up will cost them their jobs and livelihoods. This is a...