Top 10 Mistakes that Cost Employers Big Bucks (and How to Avoid Them)

MARIA STEARNS

As an employment law partner at Orange County’s largest law firm, Maria is sought after by clients for her unique approach to representing employers in all areas of employment. Maria’s practice includes defense of wage and hour class actions and traditional employment litigation, management training, development of personnel policies and other transactional documents, and day-to-day advice and counseling.

Maria has received several notable honors for her unorthodox yet highly effective and efficient approach to representing employers, including selection to the Daily Journal’s exclusive list of Top Women Lawyers for the last four years and its list of Top Employment Lawyers.

Maria is a frequent public speaker, including an annual presentation to the Association of Corporate Counsel in Los Angeles and Orange County and several large human resources organizations. Maria is a committed community member, including serving as President of the Global Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance, Board Member for Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Orange County Bar Foundation, and pro-bono counsel to non-profits. Maria is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was a full-scholarship varsity tennis player at the University of Kansas where she was named NCAA Woman of the Year.

BRANDON SYLVIA

Partner Rutan & Tucker, LLP

Mr. Sylvia is a partner in Rutan & Tucker’s Employment & Labor Section. His practice involves representing and counseling employers in all areas of employment law, including harassment, workplace discrimination,
terminations, employment agreements, leaves of absence, wage and hour issues, trade secrets, unfair competition, accommodating disabilities, and employment policies and procedures. Mr. Sylvia is known for his strategic, detail-oriented, and efficient approach to solving client problems.

Mr. Sylvia has represented employers in various civil litigation matters - including appellate proceedings before the California Courts of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - and before state administrative agencies. In addition, Brandon is a frequent public speaker, including an annual presentation to the ACC in LA and OC and several large human resources organizations as well as Rutan & Tucker’s annual Employment Law Update presented to over 250 clients.

Credits CalBar - MCLE:1.25, HRCI - HR (General):1.25, SHRM - PDC:1.25

Tag(s) Employment Law, CAHR17

Top 10 Mistakes that Cost Employers Big Bucks (and How to Avoid Them)

Description

California employers continue to face an onslaught of costly and disruptive wage-and-hour litigation. Particularly when framed as a class action or PAGA case, these claims can turn into bet-the-business sized problems when attorneys’ fees, interest, and penalties are taken into account. And, the California legislature shows no signs of slowing down its passing of additional layers of compliance obligations, further burdening beleaguered companies. An employer’s best defense in the face of such a climate is to be proactive in preventing exposure in the first instance. However, some companies have problems lurking in their policy documents and practices that, if and when discovered, can cost the company dearly. This presentation will address some of the main areas of concern – including hiring documents and procedures, handbook policies to avoid, wage-and-hour compliance, leave laws, California’s “gotcha” violations, and others – and provide practical recommendations for reducing potential liability.

MARIA STEARNS

BRANDON SYLVIA

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