'First Thursday' - Labor Law Seminar Series

Wage Stubs:  Where Little Mistakes = Big Lawsuits

California law allows employees to sue their employers, on behalf of the State of California.  The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, known as “PAGA,” is becoming an increasingly dangerous source of litigation to employers, because this statute allows one employee to bring suit on behalf of all other “similarly-situated,” employees, before the other employees have even agreed to participate.  This has the effect of transforming even minor bookkeeping mistakes or oversights that affect more than one employee, into major lawsuits that can threaten an employer’s solvency. Because of the potential for substantial recoveries, these actions are proving increasingly attractive to plaintiffs’ lawyers.

This ongoing seminar series is being conducted by veteran Petaluma labor & employment attorney, Jay Putnam. Putnam, has advised employers exclusively, in labor matters for over 36 years. He hopes to provide local business owners and managers with a solid, working understanding of California labor law, as a means of helping them avoid the often crippling cost and disruption caused by lawsuits resulting from a misunderstanding of applicable legal requirements.

Members are encouraged to bring their questions.  Putnam says he intends to conduct the seminars as "informal, working sessions, where people can bring their lunch and their questions and leave each month with important information that will immediately improve their business operations.