Employment

News & Insights

August 7, 2023 | Daily Journal List Of California’s Top Employment Lawyers For 2023

February 27, 2023 | Employers Must Review Separation Agreements After NLRB Rules That Non-Disparagement And Confidentiality Provisions May Invalidate Agreements

February 15, 2023 | Tips For Handling Employee Pay Scale Asks As Laws Expand

October 19, 2022 | How Much Does The Position Pay? California’s New Pay Transparency Law Requires Employers To Disclose Pay Scales And Report More Pay Data To State

October 5, 2022 | Rutan Bolsters its Employment Practice with New Attorneys in Northern California and Irvine

October 3, 2022 | Rutan Expands Employment Section with Attorneys in Northern California and Irvine

July 5, 2022 | Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Employment Lawyers for 2022

June 16, 2022 | U.S. Supreme Court Holds That Individual PAGA Claims Can Be Ordered To Arbitration

March 7, 2022 | The Time To Review Your Arbitration Agreement And Separation Agreement Is Now!

September 17, 2021 | Mandatory Employment Arbitration Agreements

July 1, 2021 | Maria Stearns Named to the Daily Journal’s 2021 Top Labor & Employment Lawyers

November 11, 2020 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2020

July 17, 2020 | Maria Stearns Named to the Daily Journal’s 2020 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

July 17, 2020 | Brian Sinclair Named to the Daily Journal’s 2020 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

March 20, 2020 | Employer Obligations Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act

November 6, 2019 | Employ workers in California? Review your arbitration agreement

September 12, 2019 | Rutan, LLP Scores Major Victory For California Employers

July 10, 2019 | James L. Morris Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List of Top Labor & Employment Lawyers for 2019

April 15, 2019 | Paid-Sick-Leave Laws Continue to Give Employers Headaches

March 22, 2019 | 4 FMLA Scenarios That Can Trip Up Employers

March 1, 2019 | Did Timbs set up constitutionality problems for PAGA?

February 21, 2019 | Websites and Mobile Applications of Places of Public Accommodation Must Be Accessible to the Visually Impaired Under the ADA

December 13, 2018 | Attorneys: client companies becoming more proactive in addressing harassment

August 16, 2018 | 5 Common Reasons California Employers Get Sued

July 27, 2018 | California Supreme Court Rejects Federal de minimis Doctrine for Unpaid Work Time; Employers Should Carefully Assess Any Unrecorded Work Time

June 19, 2018 | Supreme Court Upholds Class Action Waivers in Employment Arbitration Agreements. Are They Right For Your Business?

June 5, 2018 | 5 Workplace Scenarios That Could Spell Legal Trouble

May 25, 2018 | New Calif. Law Leaves Contractors With Questions

May 21, 2018 | Much Needed Good News for Employers: U.S. Supreme Court Holds Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Agreements Must be Enforced!

May 10, 2018 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2018

May 4, 2018 | Knowing Your ABCs: California Supreme Court Sets Test for Determining Independent Contractor Status

February 20, 2018 | How Will Your Confidential Sexual Harassment Settlement Be Taxed?

November 13, 2017 | ‘Renewed Attention’ to ADEA

October 17, 2017 | California Bans Employers From Asking About Salary History Or Considering It

July 17, 2017 | What To Do When You Suspect A Worker May Be Mentally Ill

June 30, 2017 | Use of Criminal History In Employment Decisions: Expanded Statewide Regulation Takes Effect July 1

May 24, 2017 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2017

May 16, 2017 | California Supreme Court Resolves “Day of Rest” Law Ambiguities

April 19, 2017 | Time Runs Out in NLRB Battle Over Co-Worker Reps

December 5, 2016 | Company Holiday Party Catastrophes

November 25, 2016 | End wage violation penalty piggybacking

November 22, 2016 | Breaking: Federal Court Blocks U.S. Department of Labor’s New Overtime Rule

October 18, 2016 | Uncertainty Abounds as California Minimum Wage Continues to Rise

August 17, 2016 | Brian Sinclair Named to the Daily Journal’s 2016 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

June 23, 2016 | Coaching the C-Suite (Corporate Counsel Q&A)

June 21, 2016 | The Fragmentation of California Wages

May 31, 2016 | California Lawyer’s 2016 Labor and Employment Roundtable Series

April 12, 2016 | The Ever-Expanding Categories of Employee and Employer: Changing the Way Independent Contractor and Joint Employer Issues Will Be Litigated

April 8, 2016 | Rising Star: Rutan’s Maria Z. Stearns

April 6, 2016 | Rutan Partner Maria Stearns Named President of Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance

March 24, 2016 | California Regulatory Update: Amended FEHA Regulations

February 2, 2016 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar 2016

January 6, 2016 | Rutan, LLP Names Eight New Partners in 2016

October 19, 2015 | Let’s Arbitrate – Or Not: Advantages and Disadvantages of Employment Arbitration

August 18, 2015 | Jennifer Farrell Joins The Board of Costa Mesa High School Foundation

July 24, 2015 | “Ax Employee/Contractor Dichotomy?”

July 16, 2015 | California’s Paid Sick Leave Law

May 14, 2015 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2015

April 10, 2015 | 2015 Labor & Employment Roundtable Series

March 16, 2015 | Employers Beware: Navigating Legal Landmines in the Battle Over Immigration

February 3, 2015 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar

December 1, 2014 | New Strict Liability for Subcontracted Labor – A.B. 1897

September 17, 2014 | How to Avoid Post-Acquisition Employment Issues By Optimizing Your Due Diligence

August 21, 2014 | Cell Phones — Employers Beware!

August 15, 2014 | Well, It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time!

July 16, 2014 | James L. Morris Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Labor and Employment Lawyers For 2014

May 28, 2014 | Partner Jim Morris Participates in California Lawyer’s 2014 Employment and Labor Roundtable Series

May 13, 2014 | The NLRB and a Series of Unfortunate Events

May 8, 2014 | California Lawyer 2014 Employment Roundtable Series

May 7, 2014 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2014

February 18, 2014 | Employment And Labor Department At Rutan, LLP Achieves String Of Trial Victories

February 11, 2014 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar

November 13, 2013 | California Court Of Appeal Affirms Ruling In Purported Class Action Case For Client Of Rutan, LLP

October 11, 2013 | Rutan Partner Jim Morris Participates In California Lawyer Roundtable Discussion On Employment And Labor Law

February 16, 2013 | Annual Rutan, LLP Employment And Labor Law Seminar Highlights Legal Developments Affecting Employers

January 14, 2013 | Mark Payne Leads Employment & Labor Section At Rutan, LLP

November 5, 2012 | Rutan, LLP Client Successfully Enforces Arbitration Agreement To Defeat Class Action, Setting Legal Precedent Useful To Employers

October 10, 2012 | Nine Partners At Rutan, LLP Named To 2012 List Of Best Lawyers In America

July 6, 2012 | Rutan, LLP Client Wins Ruling In Purported Class Action Case

August 8, 2011 | Rutan, LLP Receives Top Ranking In Survey Conducted By Association of Corporate Counsel

May 2, 2011 | Rutan, LLP Scores Arbitration Victory For Neurological Surgery Medical Associates

March 3, 2011 | Attorney Maria Z. Stearns Joins Rutan, LLP

October 1, 2010 | Nine Partners At Rutan, LLP Named To 2011 List Of Best Lawyers

March 10, 2008 | Employers Must Be Cautious with Their Use of Megan’s Law Website

January 23, 2007 | California Appellate Court Upholds Class Action Waiver in Employment Arbitration Agreement [But See Update Below]

June 17, 2002 | Privacy vs. Policy: E-Mail and Internet Abuse in the Workplace

December 27, 1996 | Case in Focus Reprint from December 27, 1996: Jury Dismisses Worker’s Claim of Age Bias

PROVEN SUCCESS REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS IN ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT LAW

Our Employment Group represents local, regional, and national employers across a wide spectrum of industries, in all aspects of employment law, and with an emphasis on the unique challenges facing California employers. Our client-centric, lean staffing structure provides clients with regular partner contact while maintaining cost-effective representation.

We have represented employers in a variety of industries, including: 

  • Financial and information services 
  • Healthcare (hospital, nursing home and assisted living) 
  • Retail store chains 
  • Restaurants 
  • Entertainment 
  • Hotels 
  • Automotive 
  • Heavy Equipment 
  • Trucking 
  • Food products 
  • Technology 
  • Manufacturing 

News & Insights

August 7, 2023 | Daily Journal List Of California’s Top Employment Lawyers For 2023

February 27, 2023 | Employers Must Review Separation Agreements After NLRB Rules That Non-Disparagement And Confidentiality Provisions May Invalidate Agreements

February 15, 2023 | Tips For Handling Employee Pay Scale Asks As Laws Expand

October 19, 2022 | How Much Does The Position Pay? California’s New Pay Transparency Law Requires Employers To Disclose Pay Scales And Report More Pay Data To State

October 5, 2022 | Rutan Bolsters its Employment Practice with New Attorneys in Northern California and Irvine

October 3, 2022 | Rutan Expands Employment Section with Attorneys in Northern California and Irvine

July 5, 2022 | Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Employment Lawyers for 2022

June 16, 2022 | U.S. Supreme Court Holds That Individual PAGA Claims Can Be Ordered To Arbitration

March 7, 2022 | The Time To Review Your Arbitration Agreement And Separation Agreement Is Now!

September 17, 2021 | Mandatory Employment Arbitration Agreements

July 1, 2021 | Maria Stearns Named to the Daily Journal’s 2021 Top Labor & Employment Lawyers

November 11, 2020 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2020

July 17, 2020 | Maria Stearns Named to the Daily Journal’s 2020 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

July 17, 2020 | Brian Sinclair Named to the Daily Journal’s 2020 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

March 20, 2020 | Employer Obligations Under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act

November 6, 2019 | Employ workers in California? Review your arbitration agreement

September 12, 2019 | Rutan, LLP Scores Major Victory For California Employers

July 10, 2019 | James L. Morris Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List of Top Labor & Employment Lawyers for 2019

April 15, 2019 | Paid-Sick-Leave Laws Continue to Give Employers Headaches

March 22, 2019 | 4 FMLA Scenarios That Can Trip Up Employers

March 1, 2019 | Did Timbs set up constitutionality problems for PAGA?

February 21, 2019 | Websites and Mobile Applications of Places of Public Accommodation Must Be Accessible to the Visually Impaired Under the ADA

December 13, 2018 | Attorneys: client companies becoming more proactive in addressing harassment

August 16, 2018 | 5 Common Reasons California Employers Get Sued

July 27, 2018 | California Supreme Court Rejects Federal de minimis Doctrine for Unpaid Work Time; Employers Should Carefully Assess Any Unrecorded Work Time

June 19, 2018 | Supreme Court Upholds Class Action Waivers in Employment Arbitration Agreements. Are They Right For Your Business?

June 5, 2018 | 5 Workplace Scenarios That Could Spell Legal Trouble

May 25, 2018 | New Calif. Law Leaves Contractors With Questions

May 21, 2018 | Much Needed Good News for Employers: U.S. Supreme Court Holds Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Agreements Must be Enforced!

May 10, 2018 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2018

May 4, 2018 | Knowing Your ABCs: California Supreme Court Sets Test for Determining Independent Contractor Status

February 20, 2018 | How Will Your Confidential Sexual Harassment Settlement Be Taxed?

November 13, 2017 | ‘Renewed Attention’ to ADEA

October 17, 2017 | California Bans Employers From Asking About Salary History Or Considering It

July 17, 2017 | What To Do When You Suspect A Worker May Be Mentally Ill

June 30, 2017 | Use of Criminal History In Employment Decisions: Expanded Statewide Regulation Takes Effect July 1

May 24, 2017 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2017

May 16, 2017 | California Supreme Court Resolves “Day of Rest” Law Ambiguities

April 19, 2017 | Time Runs Out in NLRB Battle Over Co-Worker Reps

December 5, 2016 | Company Holiday Party Catastrophes

November 25, 2016 | End wage violation penalty piggybacking

November 22, 2016 | Breaking: Federal Court Blocks U.S. Department of Labor’s New Overtime Rule

October 18, 2016 | Uncertainty Abounds as California Minimum Wage Continues to Rise

August 17, 2016 | Brian Sinclair Named to the Daily Journal’s 2016 Top Labor and Employment Attorneys List

June 23, 2016 | Coaching the C-Suite (Corporate Counsel Q&A)

June 21, 2016 | The Fragmentation of California Wages

May 31, 2016 | California Lawyer’s 2016 Labor and Employment Roundtable Series

April 12, 2016 | The Ever-Expanding Categories of Employee and Employer: Changing the Way Independent Contractor and Joint Employer Issues Will Be Litigated

April 8, 2016 | Rising Star: Rutan’s Maria Z. Stearns

April 6, 2016 | Rutan Partner Maria Stearns Named President of Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance

March 24, 2016 | California Regulatory Update: Amended FEHA Regulations

February 2, 2016 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar 2016

January 6, 2016 | Rutan, LLP Names Eight New Partners in 2016

October 19, 2015 | Let’s Arbitrate – Or Not: Advantages and Disadvantages of Employment Arbitration

August 18, 2015 | Jennifer Farrell Joins The Board of Costa Mesa High School Foundation

July 24, 2015 | “Ax Employee/Contractor Dichotomy?”

July 16, 2015 | California’s Paid Sick Leave Law

May 14, 2015 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2015

April 10, 2015 | 2015 Labor & Employment Roundtable Series

March 16, 2015 | Employers Beware: Navigating Legal Landmines in the Battle Over Immigration

February 3, 2015 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar

December 1, 2014 | New Strict Liability for Subcontracted Labor – A.B. 1897

September 17, 2014 | How to Avoid Post-Acquisition Employment Issues By Optimizing Your Due Diligence

August 21, 2014 | Cell Phones — Employers Beware!

August 15, 2014 | Well, It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time!

July 16, 2014 | James L. Morris Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Labor and Employment Lawyers For 2014

May 28, 2014 | Partner Jim Morris Participates in California Lawyer’s 2014 Employment and Labor Roundtable Series

May 13, 2014 | The NLRB and a Series of Unfortunate Events

May 8, 2014 | California Lawyer 2014 Employment Roundtable Series

May 7, 2014 | Maria Stearns Of Rutan Named To Daily Journal’s List Of California’s Top Women Lawyers For 2014

February 18, 2014 | Employment And Labor Department At Rutan, LLP Achieves String Of Trial Victories

February 11, 2014 | Rutan, LLP Hosts Annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar

November 13, 2013 | California Court Of Appeal Affirms Ruling In Purported Class Action Case For Client Of Rutan, LLP

October 11, 2013 | Rutan Partner Jim Morris Participates In California Lawyer Roundtable Discussion On Employment And Labor Law

February 16, 2013 | Annual Rutan, LLP Employment And Labor Law Seminar Highlights Legal Developments Affecting Employers

January 14, 2013 | Mark Payne Leads Employment & Labor Section At Rutan, LLP

November 5, 2012 | Rutan, LLP Client Successfully Enforces Arbitration Agreement To Defeat Class Action, Setting Legal Precedent Useful To Employers

October 10, 2012 | Nine Partners At Rutan, LLP Named To 2012 List Of Best Lawyers In America

July 6, 2012 | Rutan, LLP Client Wins Ruling In Purported Class Action Case

August 8, 2011 | Rutan, LLP Receives Top Ranking In Survey Conducted By Association of Corporate Counsel

May 2, 2011 | Rutan, LLP Scores Arbitration Victory For Neurological Surgery Medical Associates

March 3, 2011 | Attorney Maria Z. Stearns Joins Rutan, LLP

October 1, 2010 | Nine Partners At Rutan, LLP Named To 2011 List Of Best Lawyers

March 10, 2008 | Employers Must Be Cautious with Their Use of Megan’s Law Website

January 23, 2007 | California Appellate Court Upholds Class Action Waiver in Employment Arbitration Agreement [But See Update Below]

June 17, 2002 | Privacy vs. Policy: E-Mail and Internet Abuse in the Workplace

December 27, 1996 | Case in Focus Reprint from December 27, 1996: Jury Dismisses Worker’s Claim of Age Bias