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Articles by Jonathan Fraser Light
Guest commentary: Random thoughts for employers from an employment law attorney
By Jonathan Fraser Light Now that almost half of 2026 is in the rearview mirror, it may be a good time to revisit employment and related laws to make sure your company is in compliance. IT There are new and little-known Department of Justice disability compliance rules for websites that address access and usability standards. Other new laws apply to the use of cookies, notices, and social compliance audit certification. Check with your webmaster about these issues.
Guest commentary: New employment laws for 2026
By Jonathan Fraser Light It’s time to look at some of the new employment laws that will impact businesses in 2026. The state’s mandatory minimum wage is going up from $16.50 an hour in 2025 to $16.90 in 2026. If a local jurisdiction has a higher rate, that’s the one to follow. Note that the “salary test“ (the minimum salary for “exempt” employees who don’t receive overtime) is based on the state minimum wage. It is twice the minimum wage, which works out to $70,304 beginning January 1, 2026.
Guest commentary: Tricky legal issues involving employee bonuses and commissions
By Jonathan Fraser Light Bonuses and commissions continue to be a troublesome topic because employers often enter into these arrangements without thinking about collateral issues. DISCRETIONARY VS. NON-DISCRETIONARY BONUSES An employer sets up a bonus system for employees based on productivity measurements, such as key performance indicators (KPIs).
Guest commentary: HR audits are a must: here’s the speed-dating version
By Jonathan Light I conduct human resources audits with my clients regularly — a 120-point thrill ride for the uninitiated. The 2 1/2-hour exercise routinely uncovers issues the client did not know about that could open them up to legal exposure. Here is the “speed dating” version of the audit. See how well your business follows proper California (and federal) employment practices. Double-check that your arbitration agreements are in place and signed and include class action waiver language.
Backing up the backups
The proliferation of cyber extortion and ransomware, together with the threat of state-sponsored, state-sanctioned and spill-over cyberattacks, has intensified an already heightened global cyber threat environment. Increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action, including in Australia, is also contributing to the steadily rising cost of cyber risk management and cyber incident response.
Acting on climate change shouldn't be a partisan issue. The havoc it wreaks is nonpartisan.
Thomas Reese's commentary is well thought out and well described. Fortunately, and unfortunately, his conclusions are true. Fortunately, mankind has the technology and ability to mitigate climate change issues. Renewable energy sources are available to replace much of the fossil fuel use in our everyday life. By reducing our carbon and methane emissions, we can lessen the negative effects that man brought to our planet after the Industrial Revolution.
A ticking time bomb
BY , , , | WEDNESDAY, 19 JUL 2023 10:04AM 'Known-vulnerability clauses' in cyber insurance policies require vigilance in maintaining appropriate security arrangements and in closing areas of weakness to preserve insurance cover. This article explains: what known vulnerabilities are the approach commonly adopted by insurers in relation to known vulnerabilities, and what you can do to mitigate the risk of triggering these conditions in your cyber policy wording.
Insurance in a time of cyber war
BY , , , , | WEDNESDAY, 5 APR 2023 8:48AM The market-standard position has long been for loss or damage arising from war to be excluded from cover under most forms of insurance. Cyber liability insurance was frequently an exception. Broad war exclusions are now, however, increasingly found in cyber liability insurance policies. In light of the position recently adopted by the Lloyd's Market Association (LMA), such exclusions are likely to become market standard.
Transformed Q&A with Mr. Rick Burgess on Apple Podcasts
Rick Burgess from everyones favorite radio show "Rick and Bubba" joins the podcast. Rick shares his testimony of how God placed the right people at the right time in his life so that he could find true redemption through Jesus; From bold pastors, to accountable parenting, and eventually to his loving wife.
When silence is no longer golden
Recent high-profile cyberattacks and the Federal Court's Inchcape decision provide a timely reminder of the need for suitable cyber insurance coverage. The successful exfiltration of customer data from Optus and Medibank, among others, highlighted the heightened global cyber-threat environment and the potential ramifications for Australian companies.
Backing up the backups
The proliferation of cyber extortion and ransomware, together with the threat of state-sponsored, state-sanctioned and spill-over cyberattacks, has intensified an already heightened global cyber threat environment. Increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action, including in Australia, is also contributing to the steadily rising cost of cyber risk management and cyber incident response.
Backing up the backups
The proliferation of cyber extortion and ransomware, together with the threat of state-sponsored, state-sanctioned and spill-over cyberattacks, has intensified an already heightened global cyber threat environment. Increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement action, including in Australia, is also contributing to the steadily rising cost of cyber risk management and cyber incident response.
Economy tied into environment
By Jonathan Light, Laguna Niguel, Calif. Environmentally sound candidates are needed to protect the planet, our physical health and our economic health. I don’t understand voters who think the economy is the No. 1 issue but ignore the changes to our climate. The economy will suffer as the effects of climate change worsen. We are already losing huge amounts of agriculture acreage, which means less food supply and higher prices. We are seeing weather-related events wreak havoc across the country.
Carbon fee is a winning play
By Jonathan Light, Laguna Niguel, Calif. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 | 2 a.m. Rita Ransom’s Feb. 13 guest column, “Climate change is deadly serious,” puts things in perspective. Climate change is causing catastrophic events around the world. Scientists tell us there will be irreversible damage if we don’t reduce carbon emissions before the end of the decade. I’m placing a bet on humanity being able to reverse this deadly game.
Candidate Column: Jonathan Light for Springfield School Board
We have fantastic students in our schools, representing an array of diverse communities within the Springfield School District. I believe it’s the same in every district. However, as successful as we are with some of our kids, far too many of our wonderful students, nearly 28% in Springfield, fail to graduate on-time and are ill-prepared for the next step. Even more dismal, this statistic has been unchanged for decades. We can do better.
Election preview: Candidates for Springfield School Board share priorities, motivations for running
Jordyn Brown | Register-Guard | 10:56 am PDT May 1, 2021 Three Springfield School Board seats are up for election in the May 18 Special Election. However, only two are contested, with eight candidates split between them on the ballot. All three seats are for four-year terms. The only uncontested seat is Position 2, with incumbent Emilio Hernandez being the lone candidate. Hernandez is also the only incumbent running.
Opinion: The latest on COVID compliance for employers
It’s exhausting for employers to try to keep up with all the sometimes inconsistent and contradictory federal and state rules for employer COVID-19 compliance. By Jonathan Fraser Light It’s exhausting for employers to try to keep up with all the sometimes inconsistent and contradictory federal and state rules for employer COVID-19 compliance.
Virus Makes Mediation Mainstream
By JONATHAN FRASER LIGHT Monday, October 26, 2020 Much is being made about how mediation and arbitration are effective alternatives to the courts now that COVID-19 has made trials logistically problematic. Mediation, and to a lesser extent arbitration, have been at the forefront of the legal profession for a number of years. Take 1 minute to subscribe and you'll get this story immediately, plus: Already a subscriber?
Light: Businesses have the government’s green light to reopen; now what?
OPINION Jonathan Fraser Light, Your Turn Published 10:58 a.m. PT May 28, 2020 Should a company open gradually or is it everybody back at once? It's a difficult question. It depends on the nature of the business. Special consideration needs to be made for employees with health risks who are reticent to come in, or they have live-in family members with significant health issues who risk exposure. If the business can accommodate telework, it probably should continue to do so.
Protestors Disrupt Arab Festival with Pig’s Head on Pole
You are here: Home / Buzz / Protestors Disrupt Arab Festival with Pig’s Head on Pole DEARBORN, Michigan – A group of anti-Islamic protesters, led by Ruben Israel of the official street preachers used a pig’s head on a pole as a “conversation starter” at Dearborn’s 17th Annual International Arab Festival on June 15th. Some local Christians and Muslims were offended by the pig’s head on display, while many others were incredulous and could not believe it actually happened.
Vacations good for employees and employers
As we near Labor Day, it is important to remember that vacations for employees are a good idea. We all need to re-charge our batteries. Western Europe has it figured it out; employees receive several weeks off a year and companies don’t even bother to try to get much commerce done in August since most of the workforce is on vacation. Unfortunately, U.S. businesses are notoriously stingy when it comes to time off. Even when employers offer generous time-off benefits, many of those benefits go unused.
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