Articles Posted in Employment

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AdobeStock_209619567-300x181For many employers, paying employees with cryptocurrency is probably something you’ve never considered before. But these days, cryptocurrency is inching closer and closer to the mainstream.

Proof of how quickly cryptocurrency is becoming the new normal was evident when New York mayor Eric Adams vowed to accept his first three paychecks in bitcoin, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez essentially did the same.

In April 2022, the Laredo Morning Times reported that Vantage Bank was planning to offer a new way for their employees to have a savings plan with the company, stepping away from traditional savings plans and offering a digital currency savings plan using bitcoin. While the bank was offering the new savings plan, it planned to continue to provide a traditional savings plan as well.

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AdobeStock_610212747-300x200In July 2022, CNBC ranked Texas within the top 5 states in the country for business based on 88 metrics in 10 different categories of competitiveness. Texas scored high in areas like workforce, technology and innovation, and the economy. While this is an exciting time to be doing business in Texas, employers must stay current on federal and the state labor and employment laws at the forefront of their mind to avoid costly penalties.

If you are looking for an employment lawyer, look no further than Structure Law Group, LLP. Our Texas attorneys can help you overcome your company’s workplace challenges and navigate a wide range of employment issues.

At-Will Employment

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AdobeStock_56492391-300x200Whether you are looking to fund your next startup or you have an existing business that is well on its way to financial success, it is always a good idea to work with an experienced business attorney who can provide you with valuable advice and legal representation. Especially in California’s ever-changing business climate, having a lawyer is a necessity. That is why the Los Angeles business attorneys at Structure Law Group are here to help your business reach its full potential.

Four Ways Structure Law Group, LLP Can Help Your Los Angeles Start-Up

Some business owners look at hiring an attorney as an unnecessary expense. But the reality is that every business has to deal with legal issues on a daily basis. And you will be in a much stronger position if you have an experienced attorney at your side.

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AdobeStock_360567208-300x200Each year brings new changes to the laws governing the relationship between California businesses and their employees. And 2023 has certainly been an active year on that front. There are a number of new laws–and changes to existing laws–that all employers need to be aware of.  If you have specific questions about how these new laws will affect your business, the California employment lawyers at Structure Law Group are here to help.

Here is a brief rundown of some of the more critical new employment laws to keep in mind as your business continues to navigate 2023:

Higher Minimum Wage

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AdobeStock_283452126_Editorial_Use_Only-300x189It doesn’t take long on the internet to find extremist language, hate speech, and accusations of censorship. Often these are all found within the same post. Business owners have free speech rights, but free speech from any employee can expose a company to liability for false statements. It is important for business owners to create clear corporate policies about employee communications both on company websites and personal social media channels.

The Current Legal Standard

Current case law on this issue dates back a few decades. In 1964, the Supreme Court decided New York Times Company v. Sullivan, a First Amendment case involving published criticism of public officials. The Court found that Sullivan had indeed proven that the New York Times had published inaccurate statements about his office and subordinates. The fact that the statements were false did not, however, support his case for libel. The Court enacted a new standard of “actual malice.” This new rule means that an official must prove the false statement was published with the knowledge that it was false – or with gross recklessness – to sustain a libel case. Unless this legal definition of “actual malice” exists, the false statements are protected as free speech under the First Amendment.

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AdobeStock_360567140-300x200California Governor Gavin Newsom signed several laws in 2022 that will have a significant impact on employers throughout the state, with some laws becoming effective the moment they were signed and others becoming effective as of January 1, 2023. It is important for all employers to know that New Year’s Day marked the first day of the state’s new minimum wage for all employees that is set to be $15.50 per hour, regardless of employer size. As a business owner in California, you should be aware of the following new laws that have gone into effect in 2023. By familiarizing yourself with these new laws, you can help ensure that your business remains compliant and up to date with the latest regulations.

New employment laws in California relate to many different topics, ranging from off-duty marijuana use to leaves of absence to reproductive rights. If you’re facing a business litigation concern, make sure you seek out an experienced California business attorney at Structure Law, Group, LLP. With so many changes in the law, it’s important to stay informed and get the help you need to make sure you’re in compliance with all relevant laws.

To help you stay informed, here is a brief overview of some of the new laws that have gone into effect in 2023:

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Senate Bill No. 1162 (SB 1162) was an act to amend Section 12999 of the California Government Code and Section 432.3 of the California Labor Code relating to employment. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law this past September, which is effective January 1, 2023. Anybody needing help complying with this new law should contact a San Jose business attorney.

Pay Data Reporting Requirements Under Senate Bill 1162

SB 1162 requires all employers with 100 employees or more (including employees hired through labor contractors) to submit annual pay data reports to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) beginning next May 10, and every second Wednesday in May annually thereafter.

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AdobeStock_273133653-300x200California business owners face many different types of litigation. It is important to mitigate the risk of liability by consulting with a California business litigation attorney before your business is even established. The experienced California business litigation lawyers at Structure Law have helped entrepreneurs in all types of industries protect their companies from preventable losses. What follows are some of our tips to protect your business from litigation.

Have a business litigation attorney in California draft an operating agreement.

An operating agreement is not required to form a business in California. As a result, some business owners make the mistake of starting business operations without them. Without an operating agreement, the business is exposed to litigation and liability. An experienced business lawyer can draft an agreement that will reduce the likelihood of future liability. According to the Small Business Administration, an operating agreement sets the rules that guide a company’s decisions. Having an operating agreement can set decision-making processes that reduce the likelihood your company will face litigation. This agreement can even reduce the risk of future costly conflicts between owners of the company.

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AdobeStock_398358954-300x200Most businesses in California have confidential and valuable information to protect. Ensuring its protection is often a vital priority. In the ordinary course of business, companies will enter into numerous consulting agreements, service agreements and strategic alliances. These agreements are best made with the advice of a Los Angeles employment attorney who can help protect proprietary information by drafting enforceable non-disclosure agreements.

NDAs and best practices

The proper use of NDAs and noncompete clauses is to protect your company’s valuable proprietary information. NDAs can be used to safeguard trade secrets, and this is their preferred mode of operation. Nonetheless, if your company wants to protect trade secrets, you must show that you made some effort to protect those secrets. Informing hires that they will have access to proprietary trade secrets and signing an agreement not to divulge those trade secrets makes the effort enforceable and shows your company took measures to protect their intellectual property.

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AdobeStock_507078931-300x169In the twenty-first century, information is power. Businesses are facing unprecedented challenges in the race to create, maintain and protect information. These challenges have become painfully obvious in recent years. Business owners have had to move their operations to an entirely remote format while still maintaining cybersecurity. Cybersecurity has been breached in multiple brazen attacks against some of the country’s largest companies. Information security can no longer be taken for granted by any successful business. The key to success starts with the right human infrastructure within your organization. The right Chief Information Officer can protect your company’s confidential client information, intellectual property, and trade secrets to prevent the legal liability and bad publicity that comes with a data breach.

How Corporate Information Changed During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global economy has become increasingly interconnected in the early twenty-first. Business moved online as companies have expanded their reach across the world. For most companies, however, these online operations were merely supplemental to a workforce that primarily operated in person. All of that changed with the coronavirus pandemic. Suddenly, businesses were forced to move their operations entirely online if they wanted to survive. Data had to be secured to allow employees to work remotely via Zoom, Skype, WebEx, Facetime, and other video conferencing services. Two+ years into the pandemic, it seems clear that remote work will become more and more popular in the years to come. Businesses must find a way to facilitate this major change while ensuring the security of their data.

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