September 2004
WIN AT WORK MONTHLY
A Community Service of
SESSIONS & KIMBALL LLP, Employee Rights Attorneys
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Win at Work |
Employee Rights Update |
VACATIONS MAY INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY |
CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES AND NEW FEDERAL OVERTIME RULES |
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It happens every year - vacations get me more organized and productive. "Nonsense" say some business owners. Vacations cost money, and employees aren’t as focused immediately before and after time off work. However, employers should not just tolerate employees’ vacations, but appreciate their value. I suspect many employees are like me. Everything gets more orderly before a vacation. I re-evaluate my priorities, work harder, resolve procrastinated projects, and clean my office. Even my wife feels a need to "organize-the-nest" at home before a vacation. During vacations, I spend more time with my family and do things I couldn’t normally do, including getting more sleep. Just as weekend rest can recharge batteries for short term bursts of energy into the following week, annual vacations can renew long term focus. After a vacation, I’m usually more patient, organized, and willing to dedicate myself to my work. So to improve your work, don’t work - at least for a while. |
On August 23, 2004, new changes to the federal overtime rules went into effect. Currently, these changes have little effect on California employees because California and the federal government have different overtime rules. Since California rules are typically more protective of the State’s employees than the federal rules, lawsuits are hardly ever filed under the federal rules. However, one sticky point is that many of the California overtime rules are based directly on the federal rules, and sometimes the California rules specifically reference federal statutes and codes. Therefore, it may be some time before the effects of the federal changes are fully appreciated. All employees should remember that the law determines whether overtime is owed. Simply paying an employee a salary does not necessarily mean that the employee is not owed overtime. Employees who believe they have been misclassified and are owed overtime should pursue their rights promptly. Michael S. Ahmad, Attorney |
Update on our attorneys: Steve Kimball is now teaching a law school course on Wrongful Termination to a crowded class of around 35 students.
Look for our answers to employees’ questions in the "Life and Work Q & A" column of the Orange County Register’s "Business Monday" magazine. The Win at Work portion of Win at Work Monthly is from our ongoing syndicated column, which appears in the Los Angeles Times’ "Career Builder Magazine" and elsewhere. Win at Work Monthly is intended for general information and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers in need of legal advice should promptly retain the services of an attorney. © 2005 by Sessions & Kimball LLP.
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