California has distinct wage and hour laws in place to ensure the proper pay of employees. Employers often need clarification on California wage and hour laws. Each industry is different but here is an overview of requirements in the state. California Wage and Hour Laws Minimum Wage California’s minimum wage…
California employees are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and state laws. An employer cannot discriminate on the basis of: • Race • Gender, gender identity, or gender expression • Sexual orientation • Religion • National origin • Disability • Medical conditions •…
Does your company have a social media policy for employees? Policies regulating Internet use in the workplace can be very effective for maintaining your business’ positive reputation online. Last week, we discussed the first 3 items to think about when writing a social media policy. Here are 3 more considerations…
Instituting a company-wide social media policy is one of the best ways to protect your business’s brand and image on the Internet. Disgruntled employees may say negative things about your business online, harming your reputation and putting your company at risk. A well-written social media policy sets reasonable restrictions on…
An employment contract can be a useful tool to protect your business while providing clarity and structure for your employees. An effective agreement should clearly spell out the terms of both employment and termination. In this post we’ll take a look at the basics of creating an employment contract. Understanding…
One of the first things any newly formed corporation should do is draft bylaws. Bylaws are a corporation’s operational blueprint. They identify what the business does, how it is run and who is in charge. Here then are five steps to drafting a set of bylaws. 5 Steps to Creating…
Converting a limited liability company to a corporation is a relatively easy process. Before I take you through the steps, let’s take a quick look at the differences between the two types of business structures. 3 Differences Between Limited Liability Companies and Corporations 1. LLCs are formed by one or…
You’re ready to hire. Should you go with an employee or independent contractor? Your decision will have implications for your business. In this blog post we’ll address the differences between employees and independent contractors, the benefits of both and how to tell the difference between the two. What is an…
Business is an ongoing back-and-forth between interested parties. Contract negotiations, whether they be with employees or a competing business, can be contentious. There’s a lot at stake and big feelings are involved. A successful contract negotiation is one where all parties feel they got something out of the deal. This…
Having practiced corporate law in Silicon Valley for 15 years, I must say that there is nothing more frustrating for my clients, who are mostly closely held businesses in the San Jose area, than spending months or years training an employee only to have her leave and go on to…