Rebecca Torrey

Q1 What is recognised as ‘transgressive behaviour’ in the US – and is it in line with global ‘standards’? Transgressive behaviour, more commonly known in California and the United States as inappropriate workplace conduct, includes unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation towards individuals based on characteristics protected by law. Federal law protects employees against inappropriate conduct…

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Rebecca Torrey (Founder) & Judd Grutman (Attorney) of The Torrey Firm recently attended their 12th IR Global conference in San Diego. They were pleased to of met with 160+ members from over 55 jurisdictions offering an invaluable opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals from across the globe. They shared experiences with the Employment group on…

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Here are my top tips for preserving company culture and retaining staff in flexible working arrangements: ✔️ Preserving workplace culture requires careful thought about a company’s values and how to cultivate and encourage employees to embrace them. Employers need to develop new and interesting ways for employees to communicate with each other and get to…

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Employment – Transient Workers Are you seeing a shift in employee/ workforce expectations in your jurisdiction, when it comes to flexibility, length of contract, remote working, hours of work, etc? How can clients both reflect this and protect their business interests in employment contracts? In the US, and in California in particular, there has been…

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Five years on, what impact has the #MeToo movement had on employment laws in the US & around the world? Rebecca Torrey provides a progress report. The past five years has seen a growing stream of new employment laws relating to sexual assault and harassment following the outcry by the #MeToo movement, with the most significant impact…

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I am often asked what lasting impact the #metoo movement has had in California and the United States, where I practice employment law. The global social protest and media flurry that stemmed from disclosures about Harvey Weinstein have receded in light of many other workplace challenges that emerged during the pandemic. These include talent retention…

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Rebecca recently traveled to Amsterdam and had the opportunity to meet with fellow IR member Madeleine Molster. Remember if you are out and about travelling to send us your photos as we love to see our members together!

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The SCOTUS’s June 2022 decision to reverse the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, and with it the assumed Constitutional right to an abortion held by women in the United States, sent shockwaves through the US and the wider world. The July 2022 Court Decision Rejecting a Federal Right Choose to Terminate a Pregnancy The Supreme…

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Read more here on what to include in employment contracts or how to establish written documents setting forth the conditions and expectations: https://bit.ly/3OucpJx

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The onboarding and training of employees is critical to the success of any workforce, particularly a hybrid work arrangement. Onboarding may occur virtually or require in-person meetings depending on job requirements, company practices and budget. In all cases, employers should have an intentional and well-designed process in place for new employees that considers the circumstances…

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This is an excerpt from my chapter in IR Global‘s latest publication ‘Exploring a Hybrid Future’, which you can download here. There are at least two types of bias – unlawful bias based on legally protected classifications, and a broader bias against certain employees without implicating equal employment laws. In considering unlawful bias, employers must be alert to…

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This is an excerpt from my chapter in IR Global‘s latest publication ‘Exploring a Hybrid Future’, which you can download here. The majority of workers in the United States are employed at-will and do not have employment contracts. In the absence of an individual employment contract, we recommend establishing a written document setting forth the conditions and expectations…

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