Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), enacted in 2021, transformed and expanded the role of the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Most of the mandates in SB 2 took effect on January 1, 2023. As many readers are likely aware, one of the most significant changes brought on by SB 2 is the obligation that law enforcement agencies report all allegations of “serious misconduct” by peace officers to POST. SB 2 established the Peace Officer Standards Accountability Division, which reviews investigations conducted by law enforcement agencies and can conduct its own investigations into miscondu ..read more

For practicing Muslims, Ramadan began on March 10, 2024, and concludes on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.  Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar devoted to fasting and prayer.  Although not all Muslim students participate in fasting during this month, many schools throughout California do serve students who are abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.  During Ramadan, the traditional expectations of the school day or classes may be difficult for students who are fasting.  Students’ Rights During Ramadan and Other Religious Fasting Holidays Among other things, the ..read more

On March 15, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision in Lindke v. Freed an important case concerning state action, the First Amendment, government officials, and social media.  The decision provides clarity on how First Amendment free speech standards apply to government officials in curating public comments on their social media pages. In Lindke v. Freed, Port Huron City Manager James Freed maintained a public Facebook page that anyone could see and comment on.  Freed posted primarily about his personal life, but also posted content related to his job as City Man ..read more

Our short Public Safety Video Briefings will tackle cutting-edge issues and core principles relevant to public safety employers. We hope you find these videos useful and thought-provoking ..read more

We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful in your negotiations ..read more

With the enactment of Senate Bill (“SB”) 553, the legislature amended Labor Code section 6401.7 and added Labor Code section 6401.9, requiring employers to adopt and implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (“WVPP”) and corresponding training for their employees by July 1, 2024. As the effective date for these statutory requirements rapidly approaches, LCW has developed a number of resources to help employers develop a WVPP for their worksites and training for their employees in order to comply with these new obligations (See here for additional information about LCW offerings). On March ..read more

Conducting comprehensive and accurate workplace investigations is an integral part of an employer’s duties.  Whether the investigation involves allegations of minor violations of policy or more serious allegations of discrimination or harassment, each instance should be carefully analyzed to ensure all the relevant facts are uncovered so the employer can respond appropriately.  If left unaddressed, such allegations may later turn into complaints of retaliation, failure to prevent harassment, or discrimination/ bias in the workplace.  Compiled below are three common pitfalls to a ..read more

We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful in your negotiations ..read more

Though it is tempting to move on from the pandemic and to try and forget the deadly illness that started it, COVID-19 looks like it is here to stay in one form or another.  As updated on February 16, 2024, the California Department of Public Health reported a 7-day weekly average of 1,882 hospital admissions and 3.2% of deaths in the state attributable to COVID-19, with a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 7.1%.  In comparison, influenza was at a 7-day weekly average of 433 hospital admissions, .2% of deaths, and a test positivity rate of 6.5%.  Still, these numbers paint a rosy p ..read more

This article was originally published in July 2016.  The information has been reviewed and is up-to-date as of February 2024. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are typically cited as the major religions of the world, although there are many others that have tens of millions of adherents or more.  The United States has no official established religion, and instead since its founding has guaranteed its citizens the right to free choice and exercise of religion. For state agencies and local governments, these principles are not just abstractions but can come up in dai ..read more