Many companies in California use temporary staffing agencies or subcontractors to meet some of their labor needs. One of the many advantages of hiring workers this way is that the agency or subcontractor is responsible for paying the workers’ wages and providing workers’ compensation insurance rather than the client employer. (more…)

Governor Brown signed two new laws in September that add to California’s already robust regime of workplace anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. Applying to bullying and the treatment of unpaid interns, the new laws impose additional obligations on employers and could expose them to additional liability for improper behavior by supervisory employees. (more…)

For over 20 years, the “Privette Doctrine” has governed the extent of liability that general contractors and property owners have for worksite injuries suffered by a subcontractor’s employees. In Privette v. Superior Court (1993) 5 Cal.4th 689, the California Supreme Court held that “Generally, when employees of independent contractors are injured in the workplace, they cannot sue the party that hired the contractor to do the work.” Read More