Articles

Ms. Topliff's writing on employment law has been published in more than a dozen industry publications, including California Labor & Employment Law Review, California Employment Law Answers, The HR Bulletin, and more. She has also been quoted as an expert in top media outlets including MSNBC.com, Entrepreneur, San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

Ms. Topliff’s more recent writings can be found in her blog, the Workplace Wave. For a full list of Ms. Topliff’s prior writing and quotations, see below.

Authored

Book Reviews

“Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond,” Book Review, California Labor & Employment Law Review, November 2012

“Woman Lawyer: The Trials of Clara Foltz,” Book Review, California Labor & Employment Law Review, November 2011

Disability Discrimination & Accommodations

“Fitness-for-Duty Examinations: Assessing the Legal Rights and Obligations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Related Laws From the Employer and Employee Perspectives,” California Labor & Employment Law Review,  January 2009

“21st Century Work Issues, Legal & Legislative Update – Recent Developments in Disability Law,” NCHRA, 2000

“Statute of Limitations under Americans with Disabilities Act,” ALR Fed

“Remedies Available under Americans with Disabilities Act,” 136 ALR Fed 63

Harassment and Discrimination

“Diversity: We’d Like to Improve the Diversity of Our Workforce—Can You Help?” California Employment Law Answers, November 2007

“How Might Ledbetter v. Goodyear Impact California Law?” California Labor & Employment Law Review, September 2007

“Pregnancy Bias: What Do I Do About Bosses Who Say, ‘No More Pregnant Women?’” California Employment Law Answers, June 2007

“Harassment: What Does the Recent ‘Spanking’ Lawsuit Teach Us About Where Fun Ends and Harassment Begins?” California Employment Law Answers, August 2006

“Right of Prevailing Plaintiffs to Recover Attorneys’ Fees under §706(k) of Civil Rights Act of 1964,” 132 ALR Fed 345

Legislative Developments

“Storming Sacramento – An Update from the Front Line,” HR West, July 2005

“The 2004 California Legislative Session,” HR West, December 2004

“Legislative Round-up for 2001,” The HR Bulletin, December 2001

“NCHRA Makes its Presence Known in Washington, DC,” The HR Bulletin, July 2001

Recordkeeping

“Recordkeeping: May Supervisors Keep ‘Desk Files’ of Personnel Records?” California Employment Law Answers, June 2008

Retaliation and Whistleblowing

“What Is Protected Activity Under FEHA and Title VII? A Survey of Retaliation Cases and Their Practical Implications for Employees and Employers,” California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2014
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“Retaliation: How Can I Stop Managers from Retaliating Against Employees on Leave?” California Employment Law Answers, December 2006

Time Off and Leaves of Absence

Public Comments by Mary Topliff on the proposed California Family Rights Act regulations
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“Family and Medical Leave: What Do We Do with an Employee Who Doesn’t Have Enough Hours for FMLA Leave but Might by the Start of the Leave?” California Employment Law Answers, March 2008

“Family Leave: Can I Fire Someone on Family Leave?” California Employment Law Answers, January 2008

“The Latest on San Francisco’s Paid Sick Leave Law; Will the Nation Follow?” California Wage & Hour Advisor, June 2007

“Leave Management: How Do We Handle Benefits for Employees on FMLA?” California Employment Law Answers, February 2007

“Pregnancy Leave: How Much Leave Do Pregnant Employees Get, and How Much is Paid Leave?,” California Employment Law Answers, April 2006

“Employee Leave: What Do We Know About Switching to PTO?,” California Employment Law Answers, January 2006

Editor for “Paid Time Off Banking Kit: How You Can Save Money, Boost Morale and Increase Efficiency,” published in 2005 by Employer Resource Institute

“California’s New Paid Family Leave Program,” California Payroll Report, October 21, 2002

“Leave of Absence Administration: Provide Heightened Awareness of Basic Principles,” The HR Bulletin, June 1999

Trade Secret, Proprietary and Confidential Information

“Protecting Confidential Information in an Era of Short-Term Employment,” The HR Bulletin, September 2000

Wage and Hour

“Q&A: Employee vs. Independent Contractor?” CALI Journal, May 2008

“Calculating Bonuses — Important Cautions and Practical Tips,” California Wage & Hour Advisor, August 2006

Quoted

Disability

“Disabling Misconceptions: As More Disabled People Enter the Workforce, Experts Advise Training Others on the Subtleties of Working with Them,” Human Resource Executive, February 2002

“Workplace Fairness Can Be Weighty Issue,” East Bay Business Times, February 15, 2002

Employee Privacy

“Picking out the Slack: Companies Fight On-the-Job ‘Cyberslacking’ by Monitoring and Punishing Web Abuse,” The Fresno Bee, October 31, 2004

Harassment and Discrimination

“Solace During a Tough Workday; Chaplains Offer Comfort in U.S. Workplaces, Including in the Valley,” The Fresno Bee, January 1, 2006

“Setting Boundaries” (on California’s harassment training requirements), Entrepreneur Magazine, April 2005

Legislative Developments

“State SHRM Legislative Directors Rally Members to be Resources for Lawmakers,” SHRM Home, April 25, 2005

“Exercising their Rights: Employers Must Provide Time for Going to the Polls,” San Francisco Chronicle, November 2, 2004

“From Wages to Sex, Legislature Churns Out New Regulations,” Silicon Valley Business Journal, August 27, 2004

“Employers: Prepare for New State Laws,” Silicon Valley Business Ink, September 20, 2002

“Sign and Veto,” Daily Journal, December 27, 2001

Time Off and Leaves of Absence

“California’s Time-Off Laws Present HR Challenges,”– SHRM Online, July 1, 2009

“Paid Family Leave Becomes Hot Workplace Issue,” Careers – MSNBC.com, June 2, 2008

“California Paid Family Leave Law Gets Mixed Reviews,” SHRM Home, April 27, 2005

“First Family: California Has Made Paid Family Leave Law, Will the Rest of the Nation Follow?” Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2003