Employers’ most important tool of operation to keep them out of Labor Board Hearings and courtrooms is information. For the next several months a series of “must know” facts about employment issues will be published in the chamber newsletter. The information was provided CalChamber HR Specialists.

Things employers DO to get sued

Make everyone an “independent contractor” because having employees is too much trouble.

Just because you want the employee to be one, or because the employee prefers independent contractor status, does to make it so. This is another area of the law just ripe for claims and/or litigation. The “independent contractor” is quite happy until money is an issue – such as a workers compensation claim, unemployment insurance, state disability insurance or paid family leave benefits. Another problem scenario is when the Franchise Tax board or the Internal Revenue Service ant tax money, but the “independent contractor” hasn’t been paying his/her quarterly payments, owes lots of money, can’t be found or has no assets. The employer has money and failed to make the require tax withholdings – so now the employer owes.

Independent contractor status does not have a fixed definition by all the government entities that may have a claim for money owed. The primary determining factor is degree of control; who determines the manner in which the work is performed, how it is performed, who supplied the tools or equipment and where the work is performed.

Also important in determining employee or independent contractor status is whether the work is a regular part of the employer’s business. If your company makes a product and you hire an independent contractor to help make the product, chances are the individual is an employee. But if you make a product and you hire someone to paint your building, that person is an independent contractor.

Don’t bother providing training about harassment and discrimination to managers and supervisors. They won’t need the information.

The best defense you have against discrimination or harassment complaint is usually your first-line supervisors, because they are the eyes and ears of the organization. Invest in training on topics such as sexual harassment, discrimination, disability, and safety and wage-and-hour laws if you want to provide an additional layer of protection from lawsuits. Employers with 50 or more employees are required by law to provide two hours of training on sexual harassment for their supervisors. This training must be conducted every two years.

Chamber to present State of the Community Luncheon in June

The Redlands Chamber of Commerce will present the Annual State of the Community Luncheon, Friday, June 24th; 12:00 PM at the Orton Center, University of Redlands, check-in begins at 11:30 AM

Mayor Paul Foster will facilitate the event and address the community, explaining accomplishments, announcing plans, awarding citizens and businesses outstanding community awards and much more. Council Members will each have a role in the presentation and a video will be used to emphasize what has taken place in Redlands over the past year.

“This event is an excellent opportunity for our Mayor and Council to meet with the citizens and business leaders of Redlands. It will give them an opportunity to share both the immediate and long term vision for the city.” said Jill Riley, Chamber President. “We are delighted to once again present the annual event.”

For a second year the Mayor will announce winners for Annual Beautification Awards, for New Construction with landscaping, Existing Development with Landscaping, Adaptive Reuse of Historic Property, and/or Sustainable Design and Innovation. The 2016 Heroes Awards will be presented to individuals or organizations that demonstrate meaningful commitment of time and service that addresses community need and or enhance the quality of the life. Nominations can be downloaded at heroes@cityofredlands.org, beautification@cityofredlands.org or can be picked up at the Chamber office.

The cost of the luncheon is $35 per person, reservations are required.

For more information about the State of the Community Luncheon or to make reservations, call 793-2546.

Brown, White & Osborn LLP legal office offers, experience, reputation and service

Brown, White & Osborn LLP is one of the premier criminal defense and business litigation boutique firms on the West Coast. The Redlands office is located at 300 E. State Street, Suite 668. Founded by experienced former federal prosecutors, the Firm has amassed a skilled cadre of attorneys sharing a commitment to pursuing the best results possible for our clients through superior legal work. Brown White & Osborn also takes pride in having four certified specialists in the field of trusts and estates, wills and probate with unsurpassed experience and competence. Our attorneys resolve both simple and complex trust and probate matters with creativity and common sense.

The attorneys of Brown White & Osborn LLP take on visible and challenging criminal cases and complex civil disputes throughout the United States. Our lawyers bring written and oral advocacy skills and well-honed investigation and negotiation expertise to bear in federal and state trial and appellate courts, arbitrations and administrative and regulatory fora in many jurisdictions, including foreign countries.

At Brown White & Osborn LLP, no matter is considered too difficult, nor is any case treated as routine. Every matter is analyzed from a fresh perspective.

The lawyers at Brown, White & Osborn LLP, rely on attention to detail, superb written work and meticulous preparation for the courtroom to achieve successful results. The team takes advantage of the unique approaches and creative solutions made possible by the diverse backgrounds of the attorneys. Those backgrounds include extensive experience as attorneys in private practice with national and international law firms, as in-house counsel for multinational, publicly traded companies, and in government as prosecutors and judicial law clerks. This diversity of experience, combined with a commitment to superior legal work, frequently translates into victories and successful results for clients.

Brown White & Osborn LLP practices a team approach to criminal cases, civil litigation, and trust and estate planning, employing a collaborative effort towards achieving their clients’ litigation goals.

To contact any of the local Brown, White, & Osborn LLP, team call, 909 – 798-6179, or log on to www.brownwhitelaw.com.