2024 California Employment Law Update: Expansive New Regulations; Employer Impact; Best Practices for Compliance

Ms. McFate provides advice and counsel to management on numerous employment matters, including remote work, terminations and reductions in force, reasonable accommodations and leaves of absence under federal and state laws, employee handbooks, employment agreements, and COVID-19-related policies. She also advises on employment-related compliance, including wage and hour concerns, drug and alcohol testing, background check policies, arbitration programs, and employee data privacy and confidentiality. Ms. McFate represents management in employment litigation matters and before administrative bodies, including matters involving wage and hour disputes, harassment, retaliation, and discrimination. She is a former in-house employment counsel for a large consumer services company in California, acting as a strategic legal partner for human resources and all business units. 

Ms. Mesa’s practice focuses on advising employers concerning various employment-related issues, including compliance with California and federal anti-discrimination, anti-harassment and leave laws, and other human resources practices, as well as negotiating and documenting employment and severance agreements. She also counsels clients on their employment policies, and performs trainings on all aspects of employment conduct, including California-mandated sexual harassment training, discrimination training, and training on the interplay of the Americans with Disabilities Act with state and federal leave laws. In addition, Ms. Mesa advises employers on hiring and termination decisions, including those where federal and state WARN requirements are triggered, and handling performance deficiencies and evaluations.

Mr. Saifi is an experienced litigator who has tried multiple jury trials and defended employers and company executives in litigation related to meal periods, rest periods and overtime. He focuses his practice on defending employers in wage and hour class actions and claims brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act. Mr. Saifi also defends employers from discrimination and harassment claims brought under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VI under federal law. He also has experience counseling both large public corporations and private companies on state and federal laws relating to personnel policies, employee handbooks, termination accommodations, COVID-19 and compensation, and conducting onsite inspections and audits.