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....
CALIFORNIA EXPANDS FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE
Beginning January 1, 2021, California employers with five employees or more must provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected family and medical leave to eligible California employees during each 12-month period. Senate Bill 1383, recently signed into law by Governor Newsom, significantly expands the California Family Rights Act. Under...
AB-2257 Exempts More Occupations from California’s Strict Independent Contractor Law
On September 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom approved AB-2257, which expands the occupations and business relationships that are exempt from the “ABC test,” which was established by AB-5. In 2019, the California State Assembly passed AB-5, enacting stricter laws to avoid the misclassification of workers as independent contractors, which effectively...
POTENTE featured in Caribbean Journal Invest!
POTENTE is proud to be featured in Caribbean Journal Invest, the leading trade publication for tourism and hospitality in the Caribbean region - check out the interview here!
Top Priority of 2020: Workplace Diversity?
The year of 2020 has brought about many unexpected challenges. Although the COVID-19 pandemic might have presented some particularly unique challenges, many did not expect issues of discrimination to also be at the top of the list of 2020 concerns. As fights against racism, sexual abuse, police brutality, gender discrimination,...
The Future of Uber and Lyft
In a ruling stemming from a lawsuit brought by the city attorneys of San Diego and two other cities and the state, a California appeals court extended the length of time Uber and Lyft will have to comply with an order requiring them to reclassify rideshare drivers as employees. If...
WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR GLOBAL PRESENCE!
At POTENTE, our entire team has worked very hard to spread our global presence. Whether it be our global network of colleagues and clients, or a physical presence in global locations such as Mexico City and Tokyo, our global outreach is a primary objective of our firm. We firmly believe...
Trademark Trolls and Re-Branding
Are you thinking about re-branding your business? In the United States, trademark protection follows the concept of "use it or lose it" - when considering re-branding, it is important to remember that "trademark trolls" may be able to claim your intellectual property even if you have a registered trademark. This...