Editor's Note
You deserve a break today
By Jason Walsh
A s a rookie reporter many years ago in one of my first gigs in journalism, the community newspaper where I worked had a notably laissez-faire attitude
is no shortage of law firms looking to partner with chagrined employees in these often-lucrative claims—some are filing multiple PAGA suits on a daily basis. Jean’s story highlights efforts to reform
toward meal and rest breaks. It was basically: Take ‘em when you can, as long as your story is in on deadline.
PAGA and what small businesses in the North Bay can do to protect themselves from exposure to labor violations. (Hint: Be informed of labor law and adhere to it.) Also, as part of this month’s focus on workplace training and education, Judith Wilson’s From Prisons to Professions dives into the work of the Center for Employment Opportunities, whose Marin branch is preparing formerly incarcerated members of the community to readjust their lives and find career opportunities. These folks have paid their debts to society—and the center, aka CEO, wants to enable them to pay their bills now that they’re out. And lastly don’t miss our sponsored section highlighting the works of the Redwood Gospel Missions, which is expanding its reach in homeless and recovery services (thanks to its new Family Campus in the former Finley Dream Center) and continuing its outreach and training for the plethora of volunteers it needs to meet the needs of the community. That’s all for now—it’s mid afternoon and I’m due for a 10-minute break. g
Don’t forget to take those breaks, North Bay!
I’m sure there was an employee handbook on hand somewhere beneath the mounds of page proofs, reporters notebooks and AP style guides littering the newsroom that told a different story, but the overall message from management regarding meals and breaks was clear—policy, shmolicy, don’t be gone too long or too often. No one blinked twice about such nonchalance back then, but these days with state labor law stressing strict compliance and a broader demand for workplace structures and equity among employees, the old ways simply no longer fly. And they could be costly. In Jean Doppenberg’s feature, Born to Sue , we take a close look at an obscure state law known by its acronym PAGA, or the Private Attorneys General Act—which essentially self-deputizes workers on behalf of the state labor agency to blow the whistle on a business’s alleged labor code violations. A PAGA claim could potentially cost a business tens of thousands of dollars in settlement, or exponentially more if the matter goes to litigation. And there
August 2025
NorthBaybiz 11
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