Veronica Gray Quoted In Society For Human Resource Management Article

Veronica Gray, Chair of Nossaman’s Employment Practice Group, was quoted extensively in an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).  The article—5 Common Reasons California Employers Get Sued—provides an overview of best practices employers in the state should be mindful of to avoid litigation. 

Commenting on the issue of independent contractor misclassification and its importance, Ms. Gray stated that employers must be aware that the presumption is that the worker is an employee, unless you can prove otherwise.  Regarding off-the-clock work, she noted that in the Troester v. Starbucks Corp. matter, where an employee sued Starbucks for failing to pay him for off-the-clock work, the court left open a key issue: whether there are circumstances in which compensable time is so minute or irregular that it is unreasonable to expect the time to be recorded. 

Finally, Ms. Gray commented that California Labor Code requires employers to include detailed information on pay stubs and that failure to comply with these rules can lead to hefty fines.  To stay on top of this issue, she advised that internal audits are crucial to stay out of trouble.