{"id":2690,"date":"2025-08-11T17:55:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T17:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/?page_id=2690"},"modified":"2026-09-24T14:56:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:56:08","slug":"employee-relations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/employee-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"Employee Relations"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:end;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:end;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;min-height:400px;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b{background-image:url('http:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsw_900m-12.webp');background-size:cover;background-position:53% 26%;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.79;background-color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:30px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(1 of *:not(style)){order:2;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(2 of *:not(style)){order:1;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(3 of *:not(style)){order:12;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(4 of *:not(style)){order:11;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(5 of *:not(style)){order:22;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(6 of *:not(style)){order:21;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(7 of *:not(style)){order:32;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(8 of *:not(style)){order:31;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2690_6120fa-1b alignnone has-theme-palette3-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-equal kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-bottom\">\n<style>.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:30px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_bc3c9a-f3 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb\"]{padding-bottom:20px;line-height:65px;font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb\"]{font-size:35px;line-height:52px;}}<\/style>\n<h1 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_578e57-cb\">Employee Relations<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-9-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4b41e1ed36c9af9a192a48cdbf1bc960 wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Trust founded Michael Trust Law, APC after more than 35 years in HR leadership across entertainment, healthcare, higher education, finance, banking, solar energy, and other industries, including managing approximately 35,000 disability and leave-of-absence cases. He holds the SPHR, PHRca, and SHRM-SCP credentials. The PHRca is a California-specific HR credential focused on California employment law and HR practice. According to HRCI&#8217;s published pass-rate statistics at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrci.org\/pass-rates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hrci.org\/pass-rates<\/a>, the PHRca has the lowest pass rate of all HRCI credentials \u2014 47% as of December 31, 2025, compared with 71\u201384% for HRCI&#8217;s other certifications \u2014 and only 293 candidates worldwide tested for it in 2025. That HR-systems background helps identify HR process issues early, which can shape legal analysis on both sides.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_1103db-78{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_1103db-78 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_1103db-78 inner-column-2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:1;background-image:url('https:\/\/stage.startertemplatecloud.com\/e10\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/wave_tr_bg.png');background-size:auto;background-position:center center;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:repeat;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2690_0ca62c-51 alignnone has-theme-palette4-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:90px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:180px;padding-left:20px;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:60px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:20px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_484d12-1c, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_484d12-1c:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_484d12-1c inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:30px;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2690_ad6dc6-f2 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_08df5e-2a inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-lg, 4rem);column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_cd1daa-4d inner-column-2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\"]{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;font-size:45px;line-height:1.4em;font-weight:600;font-style:normal;text-shadow:0px 0px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\"]{text-shadow:0px 0px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\"]{text-shadow:0px 0px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-lg, 2rem);}}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-theme-palette-8-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_72c7e9-31\">Employer \u2013 Employee Relations<br><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:10px;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_a9f084-a2 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05\"]{font-size:17px;line-height:31px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-theme-palette-9-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_ad354d-05\"><strong>Michael Trust Law, APC<\/strong>&nbsp;helps California employers manage employee relations lawfully. We guide businesses through discipline, performance management, workplace policies, and dispute resolution to reduce liability and strengthen compliance.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1140px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id2690_e5f700-16 alignnone has-theme-palette8-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58{position:relative;}.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58:not(.specificity){margin-top:-120px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_c5f3bb-58 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image2690_900038-0b .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image2690_900038-0b\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"http:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Diverse coworkers in an office dealing with a stressful work situation around a laptop.\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-2862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/diverse-coworkers-in-an-office-dealing-with-a-stressful-work-situation-around-a-laptop.-7640785-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_096476-c4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_096476-c4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_096476-c4 kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3{max-width:1140px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal:not(.kb-section-md-dir-vertical)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3{position:relative;}@media all and (min-width: 1025px){.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-sm-dir-vertical:not(.kb-section-sm-dir-horizontal):not(.kb-section-sm-dir-specificity)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3{max-width:1140px;-webkit-flex:1;flex:1;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_3b6349-a3 kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kadence-column2690_d47601-26{max-width:1140px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal:not(.kb-section-md-dir-vertical)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_d47601-26{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26{position:relative;}@media all and (min-width: 1025px){.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_d47601-26{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-sm-dir-vertical:not(.kb-section-sm-dir-horizontal):not(.kb-section-sm-dir-specificity)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column2690_d47601-26{max-width:1140px;-webkit-flex:1;flex:1;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.kadence-column2690_d47601-26 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_d47601-26 kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",  \"@type\": \"LegalService\",  \"name\": \"Michael Trust Law, APC\",  \"description\": \"California employment law firm representing private-sector employees and employers throughout California in matters including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave and disability, and termination.\", \"serviceType\": \"Employer \u2013 Employee Relations\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/employee-relations\",  \"telephone\": \"+1-424-634-9333\",  \"email\": \"michaeltrust@michaeltrustlaw.com\",  \"priceRange\": \"$$\",  \"address\": {    \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",    \"streetAddress\": \"703 Pier Avenue, Suite B367\",    \"addressLocality\": \"Hermosa Beach\",    \"addressRegion\": \"CA\",    \"postalCode\": \"90254\",    \"addressCountry\": \"US\"  },  \"areaServed\": {    \"@type\": \"State\",    \"name\": \"California\"  },  \"founder\": {    \"@type\": \"Person\",    \"name\": \"Michael Trust, Esq.\",    \"jobTitle\": \"Attorney\",    \"hasCredential\": [      \"SPHR (HR Certification Institute)\",      \"PHRca (HR Certification Institute, California-specific)\",      \"SHRM-SCP (Society for Human Resource Management)\"    ]  },  \"sameAs\": [    \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/caemploymentlawyer\/\",    \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MichaelTrustLaw\",    \"https:\/\/apps.calbar.ca.gov\/attorney\/Licensee\/Detail\/356354\"  ]}<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\":[\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"How often should we review our employee handbook?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"At least annually. A periodic review is the most cost-effective way to catch policy language that has fallen out of step with current California law before it becomes a claim. Leave, accommodation, harassment-reporting, and discipline provisions are the sections most likely to go stale, since Cal. Gov. Code \\u00a712940 (FEHA) and its regulations change often. A handbook that still reflects an outdated standard can itself become evidence in a later dispute.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"Do we need a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"Yes, in nearly every case. Cal. Lab. Code \\u00a76401.9, effective July 1, 2024, requires California employers to establish, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, including employee training and an incident log. The plan needs to reflect the actual workplace, not a generic template.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"We have hybrid and remote employees who use their own phones and home internet for work. Are we required to reimburse them?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"Likely yes, to the extent those expenses are necessary and used for work. Cal. Lab. Code \\u00a72802 requires employers to indemnify employees for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, and Cochran v. Schwan's Home Service, Inc. (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 1137 confirmed this duty extends to reasonable cell phone and remote-work expenses. A reasonable, documented reimbursement policy is the safer approach.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"What is the most effective way to protect the business when documenting employee discipline?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"Consistency and timing. Discipline documentation created through the ordinary performance-management process, before any complaint or protected activity, is typically the strongest evidence in defending a later claim under FEHA (Cal. Gov. Code \\u00a712940). Documentation that first appears after a complaint is filed is far harder to rely on, even when the underlying performance issue was real.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_acf087-98\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_acf087-98\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_acf087-98\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_acf087-98 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_acf087-98\">California Employee Relations and HR Process \u2014 Employer Counsel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employee relations problems rarely arrive labeled as legal claims. They usually start as a manager-employee personality conflict, a performance issue, an inconsistent discipline pattern, or a complaint HR thinks is overblown \u2014 and then, weeks or months later, they surface as a discrimination claim, a retaliation claim, a constructive discharge claim, or a wage-and-hour exposure. The pattern is consistent: process failure precedes legal exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_6fe36b-e1\">How We Approach Employee Relations Counsel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Michael Trust draws on more than 35 years of HR leadership across multiple industries, and on the SPHR, PHRca, and SHRM-SCP credentials, to advise California employers on the operational mechanics of employee relations: discipline consistency, performance documentation, investigation discipline, manager training, and the design of HR processes that produce defensible records before disputes arise. The advisory work is primarily preventive and policy-focused, rather than reactive to claims.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"handbook-review\" class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_f68b09-36\">Handbook Review<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A periodic review of the employee handbook \u2014 confirming that leave, accommodation,&nbsp;harassment-reporting, and discipline policies match current California law \u2014 is one of the most&nbsp;cost-effective ways to reduce employee-relations exposure before it becomes a claim. Michael Trust Law, APC reviews existing handbooks against current California requirements, including&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12940.&amp;lawCode=GOV\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12940.&amp;lawCode=GOV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Gov. Code \u00a712940<\/a> (FEHA), and flags provisions that are outdated, missing, or inconsistent with how the business actually operates.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 id=\"workplace-violence-prevention\" class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d02c28-f6\">Workplace Violence Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California employers are required to establish, implement, and maintain a written Workplace&nbsp;Violence Prevention Plan under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=6401.9&amp;lawCode=LAB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Lab. Code \u00a76401.9<\/a>, effective July 1, 2024. Michael Trust Law,&nbsp;APC advises employers on building a compliant plan, including required employee training and incident-logging procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_2dce67-31\">When to Contact Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your business is facing a difficult personnel matter, or wants to audit HR practices proactively, contact Michael Trust Law, APC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initial contact does not create an attorney-client relationship \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/disclaimers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3208\">Disclaimers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2802.&amp;lawCode=LAB\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2802.&amp;lawCode=LAB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Lab. Code \u00a72802<\/a> (work expense reimbursement, when applicable to employee relations);&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12940.&amp;lawCode=GOV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Gov. Code \u00a712940<\/a> (FEHA \u2014 when claims arise from employee relations breakdowns); <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=6401.9&amp;lawCode=LAB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Lab.&nbsp;Code \u00a76401.9<\/a> (Workplace Violence Prevention Plan).<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6\"]{font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_e2412a-e6\">Explore Related Employer Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/discrimination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Discrimination Defense<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/sexual-harassment-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harassment Prevention<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/retaliation-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Retaliation Defense<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/employment-contracts-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Employment Contracts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\r\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/topics\/\">\r\n            Browse all California employment law topics\r\n            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span>\r\n        <\/a>\r\n    <\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5{position:relative;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5:not(.specificity){margin-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);margin-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5:not(.specificity){margin-right:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_af7cba-f5 kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51\"]{text-align:center;font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_d022d3-51\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:0px;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);color:#555555;padding-top:9px;padding-right:13px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:13px;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#555555;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#555555;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{color:#444444;background:#eeeeee;border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-blocks-accordion--visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#444444;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#444444;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#eeeeee;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{color:#ffffff;background:#444444;border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#ffffff;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#ffffff;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#444444;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{display:block;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-inner-wrap .kt-accordion-pane:not(:first-child){margin-top:0px;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id2690_5ebd2a-15 kt-accordion-has-5-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basic kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane2690_ed8967-ff\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How often should we review our employee handbook?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_a78ddf-5c\">At least annually. A periodic review is the most cost-effective way to catch policy language that has fallen out of step with current California law before it becomes a claim. Leave, accommodation, harassment-reporting, and discipline provisions are the sections most likely to go stale, since <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12940.&amp;lawCode=GOV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Gov. Code \u00a712940<\/a> (FEHA) and its regulations change often. A handbook that still reflects an outdated standard can itself become evidence in a later dispute.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-3 kt-pane2690_1041b5-dd\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">Do we need a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading2690_545d5a-86\">Yes, in nearly every case. <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=6401.9&amp;lawCode=LAB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Lab. Code \u00a76401.9<\/a>, effective July 1, 2024, requires California employers to establish, implement, and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, including employee training and an incident log. The plan needs to reflect the actual workplace, not a generic template.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-4 kt-pane2690_08be5c-cc\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">We have hybrid and remote employees who use their own phones and home internet for work. Are we required to reimburse them?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Likely yes, to the extent those expenses are necessary and used for work. <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2802.&amp;lawCode=LAB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Lab. Code \u00a72802<\/a> requires employers to indemnify employees for necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.ca.gov\/opinions\/documents\/B247160.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Cochran v. Schwan\u2019s Home Service, Inc<\/em>. (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 1137<\/a> confirmed this duty extends to reasonable cell phone and remote-work expenses. A reasonable, documented reimbursement policy is the safer approach.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-5 kt-pane2690_6d95b3-e8\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">What is the most effective way to protect the business when documenting employee discipline?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consistency and timing. Discipline documentation created through the ordinary performance-management process, before any complaint or protected activity, is typically the strongest evidence in defending a later claim under FEHA (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=12940.&amp;lawCode=GOV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Gov. Code \u00a712940<\/a>). Documentation that first appears after a complaint is filed is far harder to rely on, even when the underlying performance issue was real.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column2690_0c392a-81 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column2690_0c392a-81\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"legal-guidance-heading\" style=\"background-color:#1f344a; padding:60px 20px; text-align:center;\">\n  <h3 id=\"legal-guidance-heading\" style=\"font-size:2.2rem; line-height:1.3; margin-bottom:20px; color:#ffffff;\">\n    Protect Your Business Against Employee Relations Claims\n  <\/h3>\n <p style=\"color:#ffffff; font-size:1rem; line-height:1.6; max-width:800px; margin:0 auto 30px;\">\n   Michael Trust Law, APC helps employers manage discipline, performance, and workplace policies lawfully. Contact  Michael Trust Law, APC to discuss your situation.\n  <\/p>\n  <a href=\"http:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Contact Michael Trust Law, APC to get expert legal guidance\" style=\"display:inline-block; background-color:#0B3A6A; color:#ffffff; padding:14px 28px; font-size:1rem; font-weight:600; text-decoration:none; border-radius:6px;\">\n    Contact Michael Trust Law, APC Today\n  <\/a>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employee Relations Michael Trust founded Michael Trust Law, APC after more than 35 years in HR leadership across entertainment, healthcare, higher education, finance, banking, solar energy, and other industries, including&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1377,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":true,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"hide","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2690","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2690"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7622,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2690\/revisions\/7622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}