Court of Appeal: Up to 2 Meal / Rest Period Penalties Per Day

The Court of Appeal in UPS v. Superior Court decided that when an employee claims to have been denied both meal AND rest periods in a single day, s/he may recover two of the one-hour penalties made available under Labor Code Section 227.6.  So, one penalty is available for however many meal periods are denied in a day, and a separate penalty is available for however many rest periods are denied.
The case is UPS v. Superior Court and the opinion is here.

Court of Appeal Upholds the Denial of Meal Period Class Action

While the world waits for the California Supreme Court to issue the fabled Brinker decision on meal periods, the courts of appeal continue to find that employers need only make available meal periods, and not force them. 

The latest opinion involves a class action over meal and rest breaks and wage statements. The trial court found that the company took great measures to provide meal breaks and that, therefore, it would be impossible to have a class claim over denial of same. The court also held that wage statement claims require proof of actual injury, which is another subject that the California Supreme Court is considering.

I don't see anything new here for HR to be concerned with. There is a heady discussion of when courts can rely on precedent that is subsequently "de-published," but that's only good for procedure geeks like moi.

This opinion is in Tien v. Tenet Healthcare and it is available here.

Ninth Circuit: Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives are Exempt under FLSA

The plaintiffs in Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham Corp. were pharmaceutical sales representatives. They visit doctors on behalf of the company and attempt to persuade the doctors to prescribe their particular drugs to patients.  The company argued that these employees were exempt as "outside sales." The employees argued they were not sales persons, primarily because the patients themselves were the buyers, not the doctors.

The Ninth Circuit disagreed, holding that pharmaceutical sales reps obtain "sales" by convincing a doctor to agree to prescribe the product (a non-binding commitment).

The case is interesting for two reasons. First, the court explains what kinds of activities the outside sales exemption covers, and there is not much case law on this in the Ninth Circuit. In particular, there is a lengthy discussion about the difference between "selling" and "promoting."  The former is exempt and the latter is not. Second, the court refused to follow the US Department of Labor's current position on the exemption, which carried the day in another case in the Second Circuit.  In re Novartis Wage & Hour Litig., 611 F.3d 141 (2d Cir. 2010).

California law should follow the FLSA outside sales exemption. So this case may be helpful in California cases as well.  But, as the Novartis case shows, the US DOL and some courts do not agree that pharmaceutical salespersons are exempt, so keep that in mind.

The case is Christopher v. SmithKline Beecham and the opinion is here.

Love is DEFINITELY in the air.

Hello Lovelies,

So as it turns out, Marc Jacobs just HAPPENS to have his couture show on Valentines Day. Meaning tomorrow will be nothing short of pretty fantastic. I'd be even more excited if a dozen red roses PLUS miette cupcakes magically appeared on my doorstep too, but I'm not going to get ahead of myself and act like an idiot about something totally romantic like that. You understand. ;)

Anyways, because of this fantastic news, I've been walking around today with an oversized bow headband and large sunglasses by none other then himself (YAY). I mean, I've watched his shows for a full year now live from his website. Who knows, maybe in October I'll be flying to NYC and sit front row at his show. Oh yeah, no big deal.

If anyone is as super ecstatic about it as I am, please call me so we can scream into the phone together. It'll be fun. Promise.

The show airs live tomorrow at 5PM on his website, at www.marcjacobs.com.

XOXOXOXOXO (extra points for Valentines Day!)

Em(:

Handmade bow headband, Marc Jacobs Sunglasses and Necklace, Gap tank, Rue21 Skirt.

Medical Pot at Work - It's Back!

The California state senate apparently is taking up another attempt to stop "discrimination" against the stoned at work.  (Yes, there are some exceptions, e.g., they can't be too stoned - impaired - or work at a safety sensitive job). Just read the bill....The text of SB 129 is here.

Like the failed Prop 19, which the voters rejected last year, this bill is too vague and makes it harder for employers to fire people who come to work buzzed than it is to fire people who come to work drunk.  There, I said it.  Unlike Prop. 19, this bill allegedly applies only to "medical marijuana" users, not recreational users.

For the record, I have nothing against pot, medical marijuana, caring cannabis, or wacky weed.  I don't care if pot is legal or illegal.  But I care if people are stoned when making my dinner, caring for my relative in the hospital, fixing my car, or doing my books, etc. The new bill is too solicitous of pot smokers.  Sorry to harsh your mellow.


DGV

Up Close and Personal

Hey there lovelies,

After being a fail for 2 years, I FINALLY figured out how to work the macro setting on my camera, which meant I could take tons of up close photos of practically anything. Below are some new clothes for spring, super up close and personal. The detail is so clear, it's amazing. :)

XOXOXO,
Em

Lacoste Polo.

J. Crew Scarf.

J. Crew Zip Sweater in Peach.

Style and Co. Oxford Lace Ups. 

Follow us on Twitter.

And that's an order. Ok, not really.  Anyway, I'm not sure why an employment lawyer needs to be on Twitter.  I guess it's a way for me to "blog" in fewer than 200 characters, without the guilt. Or the grammar.  And then there's the really significant reason. It justifies an iPad 2.0 when it comes out. One cannot tweet effectively without a sleek, shiny Apple product.

Anyway, I'm going to try to tweet about employment law-related articles, announcements by other tweeting employment law-related government agencies, new cases, etc.  And of course I'll "retweet" everything by Justin Bieber, whoever he is.  Who says I'm old and out of touch?  Oh. Right. I do.

We'll still blog about more in-depth analyses of employment law cases, too.  So, please do not despair if you're not part of the twittering horde. 

But if you ARE in our super cool club of twittering employment law-lovers, please follow us on Twitter and do your bit to make us the 3,000,000th most popular member.  OK, it's a stretch goal.  You can sign up here: 

Greg