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Joseph Beachboard

What should we do? Only after accepting job did we figure out her husband works here

01/30/2017
Q. We recently hired an amazing applicant for a position at our large accounting firm. After signing her offer, she casually mentioned that her husband works here. We have a policy against office romances. Can we dismiss either her or her husband for this reason?

Can we urge an employee to change her name?

01/30/2017
Q. With Valentine’s Day around the corner and love in the air, I think it would be an opportune time to convince our employee to take her husband’s last name.

Call of (jury) duty: What must we do?

12/22/2016
Q. What are California employers’ obligations with regard to workers who get called on for jury duty?

What kind of pregnancy and family leave rights do gestational surrogates have in California?

12/22/2016
Q. One of our employees is a gestational surrogate for a woman who cannot carry a child. Is our employee entitled to pregnancy disability, FMLA or CFRA leave as a surrogate?

All about California’s WARN Act

11/28/2016
What are our notice requirements? … What must WARN notices say? … What if we don’t give notice?

Can I really not smoke in my own office?

10/27/2016
Q. I recently relocated my business to California from a foreign country. I heard that I am not allowed to smoke in my office. Is this true?

No workers: Still need workers’ comp coverage?

10/27/2016
Q. My wife and I run our own business. Are we required to obtain workers’ compensation coverage even though we have no employees?

Must we continue health insurance when employees are out of work on leave?

10/27/2016
Q. Is our business required to continue to offer health benefits to our employees while they are out on family leave?

He handles our money! Can we terminate employee who recently filed for bankruptcy?

09/26/2016
Q. I recently discovered that an employee who handles company money has filed for bankruptcy. My concern is that if he was unable to handle his own finances, he may be untrustworthy with company finances. Can I discharge this employee?

Is it legal to require a lie detector test in California?

08/22/2016
Q. I am in the process of interviewing candidates for an administrative position. This person would work very closely with me, and I need to trust him or her completely. Can I bring in a polygraph expert and use lie detector tests during the final interviews?