Articles Posted in Employment

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AdobeStock_295110466-300x132Sexual harassment training is not necessary for non-government workers in Texas but is required for all state employees. If you are dealing with sexual harassment concerns in your workplace, makes sure you speak to a Texas employment attorney.

Changes to Texas sexual harassment laws last year have now made more companies view sexual harassment training as being more of a necessity. Sexual harassment training in the workplace may help employers avoid costly lawsuits and reduce potential employer liability.

New Texas Sexual Harassment Laws

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AdobeStock_439234126-300x155The key to any successful Silicon Valley business is hiring the right people. Indeed, the decision to hire a new employee is an important task for any business, whether it is a startup or a multinational corporation. But what are the legal issues you need to consider before you decide to bring a new person into your company?

SLG offers counseling on a wide range of California employment law issues to businesses in San Jose and throughout Northern California. Here are just a few of the key issues you need to think about when it comes to new employees.

Employee or Contractor?

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AdobeStock_621812775-300x200As we step into 2024, California employers need to brace themselves for a wave of new employment laws that will shape the dynamics between businesses and their workforces. A series of new legislation, along with revisions to existing laws, demand the attention of all employers. If you have particular inquiries about the implications of these new laws on your business, the California employment lawyers at Structure Law Group stand ready to assist you.

Here’s a concise overview of some pivotal new employment laws to consider as your business navigates 2024:

Non-Compete Clauses & Unfair Competition (Effective January 1, 2024):

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AdobeStock_523210302-300x200One tool that employers have traditionally used to protect their business interests is to have key employees sign non-compete agreements. Such contracts are controversial and recently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule that would ban non-compete agreements nationwide.

Here in Los Angeles, California state law already heavily restricts the use of non-compete agreements. So if your business has questions or concerns about whether it can effectively use a non-compete, it is best to contact the Los Angeles employment attorneys at SLG to learn more about this area of law as well as other strategies used to protect a company’s interests.

In Los Angeles Most Non-Competes Are Illegal

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AdobeStock_102097403-300x200As of January 1, 2024, all entities that are not exempt in California must file reports on their “beneficial ownership” with the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). These reporting rules were part of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), which itself was enacted by Congress as part of the 2021 Department of Defense authorization bill. The Los Angeles corporate law attorneys at Structure Law Group, LLP, can advise you on your company’s obligation under the new rules and how to avoid potential regulatory issues with FinCEN.

New Requirements for Disclosing “Beneficial Owners” of Foreign and Domestic Companies

At its core, the CTA is an effort to enhance the Treasury Department’s ability to identify and take legal action against potential money laundering activities. In adopting the CTA, Congress determined that many actors involved in illegal activities like terrorist and tax fraud used “shell” companies to conceal their identities and move their illegally obtained proceeds through the U.S. financial system undetected. Given that corporation law varies from state-to-state, there were no uniform national requirements for reporting the actual or “beneficial” owners of many corporate entities.

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AdobeStock_209619567-300x181For many employers, paying employees with cryptocurrency is probably something you’ve never considered before. But these days, cryptocurrency is inching closer and closer to the mainstream.

Proof of how quickly cryptocurrency is becoming the new normal was evident when New York mayor Eric Adams vowed to accept his first three paychecks in bitcoin, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez essentially did the same.

In April 2022, the Laredo Morning Times reported that Vantage Bank was planning to offer a new way for their employees to have a savings plan with the company, stepping away from traditional savings plans and offering a digital currency savings plan using bitcoin. While the bank was offering the new savings plan, it planned to continue to provide a traditional savings plan as well.

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AdobeStock_610212747-300x200In July 2022, CNBC ranked Texas within the top 5 states in the country for business based on 88 metrics in 10 different categories of competitiveness. Texas scored high in areas like workforce, technology and innovation, and the economy. While this is an exciting time to be doing business in Texas, employers must stay current on federal and the state labor and employment laws at the forefront of their mind to avoid costly penalties.

If you are looking for an employment lawyer, look no further than Structure Law Group, LLP. Our Texas attorneys can help you overcome your company’s workplace challenges and navigate a wide range of employment issues.

At-Will Employment

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AdobeStock_56492391-300x200Whether you are looking to fund your next startup or you have an existing business that is well on its way to financial success, it is always a good idea to work with an experienced business attorney who can provide you with valuable advice and legal representation. Especially in California’s ever-changing business climate, having a lawyer is a necessity. That is why the Los Angeles business attorneys at Structure Law Group are here to help your business reach its full potential.

Four Ways Structure Law Group, LLP Can Help Your Los Angeles Start-Up

Some business owners look at hiring an attorney as an unnecessary expense. But the reality is that every business has to deal with legal issues on a daily basis. And you will be in a much stronger position if you have an experienced attorney at your side.

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AdobeStock_360567208-300x200Each year brings new changes to the laws governing the relationship between California businesses and their employees. And 2023 has certainly been an active year on that front. There are a number of new laws–and changes to existing laws–that all employers need to be aware of.  If you have specific questions about how these new laws will affect your business, the California employment lawyers at Structure Law Group are here to help.

Here is a brief rundown of some of the more critical new employment laws to keep in mind as your business continues to navigate 2023:

Higher Minimum Wage

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AdobeStock_283452126_Editorial_Use_Only-300x189It doesn’t take long on the internet to find extremist language, hate speech, and accusations of censorship. Often these are all found within the same post. Business owners have free speech rights, but free speech from any employee can expose a company to liability for false statements. It is important for business owners to create clear corporate policies about employee communications both on company websites and personal social media channels.

The Current Legal Standard

Current case law on this issue dates back a few decades. In 1964, the Supreme Court decided New York Times Company v. Sullivan, a First Amendment case involving published criticism of public officials. The Court found that Sullivan had indeed proven that the New York Times had published inaccurate statements about his office and subordinates. The fact that the statements were false did not, however, support his case for libel. The Court enacted a new standard of “actual malice.” This new rule means that an official must prove the false statement was published with the knowledge that it was false – or with gross recklessness – to sustain a libel case. Unless this legal definition of “actual malice” exists, the false statements are protected as free speech under the First Amendment.

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