Proposed Federal Law Could Ban Non-Competes
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a rule that would ban all non-competes with very limited exceptions. If approved, the new rule would make it illegal for an employer to attempt to enter into a non-compete agreement with an employee, maintain an existing non-compete agreement, or advise an employee...
California’s 2023 Minimum Wage Adjustments
Effective January 1, 2023, the state-wide California minimum wage will rise to $15.50 per hour for all employees, regardless of the size of their employer. This accelerated increase is required by a provision in the state's existing minimum wage law that was triggered because inflation exceeded 7%. Certain counties and cities in...
2023 California Employment Law Updates to Add to Your Employee Handbook and Policies
2023 California Employment Law Updates to Add to Your Employee Handbook and Policies The new year comes with several changes in employment law that should be taken into account for the protection of your business and your employees. The new laws cover a wide range of areas in employment, including...
The Rise and Fall of NFTs
Non-Fungible Tokens give proof of ownership of a digital object. NFTs have unique qualities that cannot be exchanged for others of the exact same type. NFTs are primarily centered around digital art, but can also include collectables, trading cards, event tickets, music, digital video clips, and virtual fashion. Although digital...
Annual Tax Fees Waived for New Business in California
If you are interested in starting a Limited Liability Company in California, there is no time like the present. In an effort to welcome new businesses to the golden state, California Governor Gavin Newsome signed legislation in 2020 to exempt startups from paying the LLC franchise tax during their first...
The Pros and Cons of Comic-Con
If you found yourself in downtown San Diego this past weekend, you may have encountered a variety of different people with costumes and extravagant props walking around. It does not come as a surprise for native San Diegans since Comic-Con takes place just down the street at the San Diego...
Potentially Big Estate Tax Savings for Wealthy Families
According to a Wall Street Journal article, oftentimes, families and spouses of deceased individuals miss the deadline to file an estate tax return and select portability. Portability allows a surviving spouse to shelter assets from estate taxes at their death because typically, federal estate tax is levied per person. When...
Online Shopping, Now and Future Trends
Online shopping has given independent retailers a way to compete with major players in the industry. Selling through an online platform allows smaller retailers to connect with consumers outside their local market. Over 80% of retailers are selling online now, which is not surprising because 43% of shoppers make monthly...
How Facebook became Meta
On October 28, 2021, Facebook announced it would now operate under a new company name, Meta. Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the company’s name change is in line with its intention of progressing beyond a social media network and developing the next generation of technology. During the announcement of the name...
Consumer Trends: Does Shopping Feel More Like a Sport Now?
Trying to follow consumer trends feels a lot like riding a rollercoaster, especially considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumerism. The pandemic forced some consumers to retire their hefty spending accounts or entertainment budgets. Instead, these consumers began focusing on the essentials, like toilet paper and bottled water....
Vaccine Mandates and Vaccine-or-Test Programs – Employer Considerations
As COVID-19 rules and regulations continue to change, employers should be reminded of two important aspects of some of the new vaccine mandates and periodic testing requirements. Employers in many states are permitted to implement vaccine-or-test programs or vaccine mandates for all employees. However, with each of these options for...
2021 Minimum Wage Laws and Exempt Employee Salaries
Beginning January 1, 2021, the following increased minimum wages and exempt employee salaries will go into effect: Statewide Minimum Wage On January 1, California’s minimum wage will increase to $14 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees and $13 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees....