Recent Articles

Another California Court of Appeal Finds California's Special Protections for Labor Picketing to be Unconstitutional

Sheppard Mullin

February 07, 2011 22:55

On January 27, 2011, another California Court of Appeal held in Ralph’s Grocery Co. v. United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8 that the Moscone Act and Labor Code section 1138.1, both of which give special protections to union picketing, are unconstitutional because they violate...

Ninth Circuit Rules That An Employee Who Quits Because The Business Is Closing Has Not "Voluntarily Departed" Under the WARN Act

Sheppard Mullin

January 26, 2011 00:15

On January 21, 2011, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Collins v. Gee West Seattle LLC held that when an employee voluntarily leaves because the company is closing, the employee has not "voluntarily departed," but has instead suffered an "employment loss" under the Worker...

U.S. Supreme Court Allows Lawsuit By Employee Who Claimed He Was Fired In Retaliation For His Fiancée's Discrimination Complaint

Sheppard Mullin

January 25, 2011 22:33

On January 24, 2011, the United States Supreme Court held in Thompson v. North American Stainless, LP that an employee who claimed he was fired in retaliation for his fiancée’s discrimination complaint could pursue a claim against their mutual employer under Title VII of the Civil...

Labor & Employment Law Update & Happy Hour - Spring 2011

Sheppard Mullin

January 21, 2011 22:49

Join our Sheppard Mullin attorneys as they discuss recent developments in labor and employment law at both the state and federal level. We will explain how these new developments will affect the day-to-day decisions made by in-house counsel and human resource professionals. We will also discuss the...

Labor & Employment Law Update & Happy Hour - Spring 2011

Sheppard Mullin

January 21, 2011 22:00

Join our Sheppard Mullin attorneys as they discuss recent developments in labor and employment law at both the state and federal level. We will explain how these new developments will affect the day-to-day decisions made by in-house counsel and human resource professionals. We will also discuss the...

Social Media Research + Employment Decisions: May Be a Recipe for Litigation

Sheppard Mullin

January 21, 2011 18:59

We are the Google generation. We meet someone interesting, and then search the Internet to learn more about them. There is nothing wrong with doing this in the context of networking, making new friends, or pitching for business. However, searching the Internet for information about someone who is...

EEOC Alleges That The Use Of Credit Histories To Make Employment Decisions May Have A Disparate Impact On Minorities

Sheppard Mullin

January 19, 2011 16:52

The new year is a good time for employers to review their hiring practices to ensure that they are job-related and justified by business necessity. Indeed, even seemingly neutral hiring criteria may inadvertently have an adverse effect on a protected group of people. Recently, the use of credit...

"Belongs To The Company" Means Exactly That

Sheppard Mullin

January 18, 2011 20:24

In Holmes v. Petrovich Development Company, plaintiff Gina Holmes sued her former employer for sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, violation of the right to privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Using her Company computer, Holmes had sent emails to her...

Labor & Employment Law Update: New Year, New Posters, New Laws

Sheppard Mullin

January 07, 2011 22:51

With the onset of a new year, employers must be aware of new laws scheduled to take effect in 2011. Most importantly, employers should be aware that their 2010 California and federal notices posters are now outdated, and certain employers may be required to include additional postings. ...

New York Enacts The Wage Theft Prevention Act

Sheppard Mullin

December 22, 2010 23:43

On December 13, 2010, Governor David Patterson signed the Wage Theft Prevention Act (“WTPA”). The WTPA will take effect on April 12, 2011. As set forth in more detail below, the WTPA amends the New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) in a number of ways by providing additional...