Protecting employees from sexual harassment at work
SEXUAL misconduct in the workplace is more common than most people think. In many instances, victims do not complain for fear of retaliation, of being disbelieved, or for sheer embarrassment….
Category: Business
Covering the week’s most noteworthy business news impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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How IRS verifies your income tax returns for audit
DID you ever wonder how the IRS selects tax returns to be audited? Here’s a three-part series on how tax returns are received, stored, and chosen for audit: • How…
Protecting immigrant employees’ rights in today’s politics
THE current political environment has disturbed many immigrants. The administration has touted that immigration laws will strictly be enforced, with tough talk on rounding up immigrants for deportation. This has…
Trump tax plan for 2017 & beyond
REPUBLICAN president-elect Donald Trump unveiled a new framework for his revised tax plan. Basically, his plan simplifies the tax code – reduce tax rates, simplify provisions, and reform business taxation….
How bankruptcy relief can end debt stress & anxiety
ONE thing certain about debt problems is that most of them don’t just go away by themselves. They’re there when you go to bed at night and they’re still there…
Bankruptcy options for senior citizens
ARE your “golden years” golden? Not so for more and more Americans age 65 and older. The rate of personal bankruptcy filings among those ages 65 or older soared by…
Senior needs Chapter 13 relief for $24K credit cards
Formerly rich seniors need Chapter 7 relief “ We have strength for all things in Christ who empowers us – He infuses us with inner strength and we are self…
Are men entitled to take leave for their new baby?
Q: I HAVE been working five years for a company (with over 200 employees) in Los Angeles. My wife just gave birth to our first child. Being a new father,…
2016 federal tax changes
1. TAX Day is April 18, 2017: While we are accustomed to a filing tax deadline of April 15, this day falls on a Saturday so the deadline is moved…
$25 million payout in Trump University class action
Is non-admission of guilt the same as innocence? SONNY Low is a 71-year old San Diego resident, who took the free introductory Trump University seminar. Trump University persuaded Low to pay…
New California laws 2017
“ Workers in ‘substantially similar’ jobs but of different races or ethnicity will need to be paid equal wages.” (Part 2 of 2) TEXTING While Driving: Texting is already forbidden,…
Why most people feel powerless over debt problems
IF you are experiencing debt problems, you may find it difficult to talk to other people about it to the point that you are not getting the help that you…
Chapter 7 to discharge credit cards, loans
CLIENT is 64, a young senior. I say young because I consider seniors in their sixties as still active and robust. Except for more white hair, they still feel like…
Gender equality: A winning fight for a women’s basketball coach
Mary Burns worked as the women’s basketball coach at San Diego State University (SDSU) for 16 years, and was considered the “winningest coach in SDSU women’s basketball history.” However, during…
Debt forgiveness without bankruptcy?
You’ve probably seen a lot of these ads: “Settle your debts for pennies on the dollar!”, “Reduce your debts legally without filing bankruptcy!” “Stop bill collectors now and pay them…
Proving your citizenship
A little known provision of a new law could result in a denial of health care benefits to an estimated 50 million Medicaid (California’s Medi-Cal) enrollees. This includes hundreds of…
“On-call” during breaks? You may be entitled to additional wages
ABM Security Services, Inc. employed about 15,000 current and former security guards at residential, retail, office, and industrial sites throughout California. In 2005, Jennifer Augustus and two other security guards,…
Do you have these fears about bankruptcy?
Are you struggling with debt problems and have thought about filing for bankruptcy but have questions that you’re afraid to ask? Over the last 12 years, I have counseled and…
Signs that you will you need bankruptcy relief in 2017
Best wishes to all readers for the new year! Mr. Trump has made filing for bankruptcy relief as a sign that he’s smart. He’s smart he says because his companies…
How bankruptcy can get rid of financial stress
Being in debt can be one of the most stressful situations you will ever face in life. It happens to everyone although you may feel like you’re the only person…
Pay equality & rights of domestic workers & immigrants strengthened under new laws
This is our yearly wrap-up of some of the new laws created in California this year to continue to protect employees: Gender Pay Equality Law Expanded Beginning January 2016, an…
Murphy’s Law 2: A somber side of life
WHILE my columns usually focus on the serious subject of IRS audits, let’s end this year with more somber versions of Murphy’s Law: Law of IRS Audits If you are…
Seniors want bankruptcy relief for $100K credit cards: Chapter 13 or Chapter 7
Best wishes to all readers for Christmas! HUSBAND and wife are both 66. They were my clients 15 years ago. I do not remember how much credit cards were discharged…
Why would your employer lie about the reason for firing you?
Q: I WAS diagnosed with early stage cancer a few weeks ago. I can still do my job but I will need about 5 hours off from work every week…
ABCs of foreclosures, short sales, and deeds in lieu
THE loss of our homes to foreclosure, short sale, or deed in lieu of foreclosure is akin to adding insult to injury – after losing our homes, we also have…
Dealing with debt: Are there other options besides bankruptcy?
FOR people who are considering bankruptcy as a way to get out of debt, some questions constantly arise. Am I doing the right thing? What other options are available? If…
Financial goals for the New Year
Among the top resolutions people make when the new year comes around is getting their finances on the right track. The promise of new beginnings and the burden of self-improvement…
Client seeks Chapter 7 relief for $57K credit cards
Senior seeks Chapter 7 relief for $100K credit cards CLIENT is 52 and married. Her husband filed for Chapter 7 relief for $30K of credit card debts two years ago. At…
Are part-time employees entitled to paid sick leave?
(And can employees use their paid sick time to care for family members?) Q: I AM a part-time hourly employee working in retail. I work between 20 to 30 hours…
Can’t plan for the future due to excessive debt
ARE you worried about your future due to having too much debt? You’ve probably heard the saying, “The failure to plan is a plan to fail”. And yet so many…