It is confirmed that California health care industry employers may have certain employees (i.e. nurses, therapists, physician assistants, technicians) waive one of their two meal periods even if they are working shifts exceeding twelve hours.
California employers need to examine policies that require employees to reimburse for training costs if they leave for other work, following a California Court of Appeal decision against the Los Angeles Police Department.
Recognizing the importance of scheduling flexibility for the healthcare industry, California recently passed a law that gives healthcare personnel the right to waive one of two meal periods when working a shift over 12 hours in a workday. This effectively restores the original exception first adopted in 1993.
On October 5, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill No. 327 into law, which took effect immediately and confirmed that employees in the health care industry (i.e. nurses, therapists, physician assistants, technicians) can waive one of their two meal periods when working a shift over twelve hours in a workday. (more…) ...
Healthcare class actions, most notably those involving wage and hour claims, are increasingly challenging matters for employers. The California Court of Appeal’s recent response in one such case demonstrates the unexpected role that policies and procedures can play in determining whether the courts grant class action status.
Class actions against health care employers continue to be a growing trend in California and a recent decision by the California Court of Appeal highlights why health care employers must carefully draft and implement policies that are in compliance with California wage and hour law. When faced with a class action, such employers must also thoroughly address each class certification requirement when preparing an opposition to class certification. (more…) ...