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Los Angeles employment and elder abuse firm expands guidance for workers navigating wage-and-hour disputes, pay transparency, and workplace rights notices

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Rio Law Group, a Los Angeles-based law firm led by attorney Sam Mollaei, today announced an expanded worker-guidance initiative focused on wage-and-hour violations, pay transparency, workplace retaliation, discrimination, and elder abuse matters as California enters 2026 with heightened enforcement attention and new statutory requirements for employer.

“Large, complex wage-and-hour disputes can feel abstract until checks begin arriving in workers’ mailboxes,” said Sam Mollaei, founder of Rio Law Group. “When tens of thousands of people are owed backpay over multiple years, it underscores why pay practices, timekeeping, and compliance details matter—not just for corporations, but for every worker trying to pay rent and plan their future.”

Why this moment matters

Rio Law Group stated that the convergence of widely reported wage-and-hour enforcement actions and multiple new California workplace requirements effective January 1, 2026 is driving increased questions from workers across Los Angeles and Southern California about what rights exist, what documentation is important, and what timelines apply.

For many workers, the most immediate issues remain familiar:
– Unpaid overtime and off-the-clock work.
– Missed meal and rest breaks.
– Misclassification (exempt vs. non-exempt; independent contractor vs. employee).
– Tip or gratuity disputes in service and hospitality roles.
– Retaliation after raising concerns about pay, scheduling, safety, or discrimination.

Rio Law Group’s expanded guidance initiative is designed to help workers identify common red flags early, preserve records, and understand the practical differences between internal HR complaints, agency complaints, and civil claims.

2026 California updates to watch

Rio Law Group is also highlighting several statewide changes taking effect in 2026 that may affect employee pay, workplace postings and communications, and enforcement mechanisms.

State minimum wage increase (2026).

California’s statewide minimum wage is set to increase to $16.90 per hour on January 1, 2026, as reported by CalChamber’s HRWatchdog, citing certification by the California Department of Finance. HRWatchdog further reports that this increase affects the minimum salary threshold for full-time exempt employees, which will be $70,304 per year beginning January 1, 2026.

Pay transparency and pay data changes (SB 642).

Mayer Brown’s summary of California’s 2026 legislation reports that SB 642 amends the definition of “pay scale” to require job postings to include “a good faith estimate” of the salary or hourly wage range the employer reasonably expects to pay upon hire. Mayer Brown also reports that these legislative updates include changes affecting pay data reporting, including mandatory civil penalties for failing to file a pay data report.

Workplace Know Your Rights Act notice obligations (SB 294).

National Law Review reports that SB 294, signed into law in October 2025, requires California employers starting February 1, 2026 to provide stand-alone written notices to current employees (and to new hires upon hire) describing specified workplace rights. National Law Review also reports that SB 294 requires employers to give employees the opportunity to designate an emergency contact by March 30, 2026, and describes penalties for violations that can be assessed per employee.

Tip theft enforcement authority (SB 648).

Holland & Knight reports that SB 648 gives the California Labor Commissioner express authority to investigate gratuity disputes and to issue citations or pursue civil action for tips unlawfully taken or withheld. Holland & Knight also describes specified civil penalties under SB 648, in addition to actual tips and wages owed.

Rio Law Group noted that, taken together, these measures reflect an ongoing trend toward higher documentation expectations, more formal notice requirements, and expanded enforcement tools; factors that can affect both individual claims and broader workplace compliance.

Common wage-and-hour issues in Los Angeles

Rio Law Group emphasized that many wage-and-hour claims are not based on a single dramatic incident, but instead build over time through small, repeated shortfalls.

Examples include:
– Rounding or timekeeping systems that consistently benefit the employer.
– Unpaid pre-shift and post-shift tasks (opening/closing duties, security checks, required logins).
– “On-call” expectations without proper pay.
– Policies discouraging meal breaks or making breaks impractical due to staffing.
– Off-the-clock communications after hours.

Because wage-and-hour disputes often turn on records, the firm recommends preserving pay stubs, schedules, policy documents, and written communications related to timekeeping or job duties.

Discrimination, harassment, and retaliation remain persistent

Beyond pay violations, Rio Law Group stated that workplace discrimination and retaliation claims continue to arise across industries in Southern California, including office settings, healthcare, retail, hospitality, logistics, and construction.

Common allegations include:
– Adverse treatment based on protected characteristics (including sex, race, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
– Failure to accommodate disabilities or medical conditions.
– Harassment that escalates after reporting.
– Retaliatory discipline, scheduling cuts, demotions, or termination following complaints.

Rio Law Group stressed that retaliation claims often hinge on timing, documentation, and whether the worker raised concerns through recognized reporting channels.

Elder abuse and neglect concerns

Rio Law Group also announced a continued focus on elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation matters involving nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other caregiving settings.

Potential warning signs families often report include:
– Unexplained bruising, fractures, or repeated falls.
– Pressure injuries (bedsores) or signs of poor hygiene.
– Dehydration, malnutrition, or sudden weight loss.
– Medication errors, overmedication, or missed medications.
– Social withdrawal, fear around certain caregivers, or sudden behavioral changes.
– Unusual banking activity, missing valuables, or unexplained changes in legal/financial documents.

The firm encourages families to document concerns promptly, request care-plan information when appropriate, and escalate urgent safety concerns to regulators or law enforcement when needed.

Practical guidance: documentation and timelines

Rio Law Group stated that whether a matter involves pay, discrimination, retaliation, or elder neglect, the most common avoidable problem is delay—waiting until records disappear, witnesses move on, or deadlines get missed.

For workplace disputes, Rio Law Group recommends practical steps such as:
– Keeping copies of pay stubs, schedules, handbooks, and policy updates.
– Maintaining a contemporaneous log of key incidents, including dates, times, and witnesses.
– Preserving relevant texts, emails, chat messages, and written directives.
– Saving or photographing timekeeping entries when feasible and lawful.
– Avoiding signing severance or settlement documents without understanding the scope of the release.

For elder abuse or neglect concerns, families can consider:
– Keeping a dated journal of observations and interactions.
– Photographing visible injuries or unsafe conditions when safe and permitted.
– Requesting medical records and facility incident reports through proper channels.
– Reporting urgent issues to the appropriate state agencies.

About Rio Law Group

Rio Law Group is a Los Angeles law firm representing clients in employment law and elder abuse matters in California State. The firm handles cases involving wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and elder abuse and neglect. The firm serves clients throughout Los Angeles and Southern California. For more information, contact Rio Law Group.

Media Contact:

Rio Law Group
10880 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2000
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: +1 (424) 414-7421
Email: director@riolawgroup.com
Website: https://www.riolawgroup.com/

Rio Law Group
Rio Law Group
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director@riolawgroup.com
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Since its launch in 2023, the Ski Industry Climate Summit has evolved from a brand-focused dialogue into an conference uniting the winter sports industry.

BOLZANO, ITALY, January 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The international ski and winter sports industry will gather for the third edition of the Ski Industry Climate Summit, taking place January 13–15, 2026, at Fiera Bolzano in Italy, alongside the Prowinter Show. As climate change continues to challenge winter sports, the industry’s commitment to transformative action has never been stronger. Brands, resorts, companies, and organizations are striving to minimize their environmental impact and undertake the essential changes that climate science demands.

The Summit is an international conference built to strengthen collaboration across the winter sports industry. It offers a shared space for open discussion, practical learning, and joint progress toward a more sustainable future. Hosted by Atomic, Protect Our Winters Europe (POW), and the Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), the Summit has become the key meeting point for collective climate action across the entire winter sports industry.

Common challenges, common solutions
Since its launch in 2023, the Ski Industry Climate Summit has evolved from a brand-focused dialogue into an industry-wide conference uniting ski and snowboard manufacturers, protection and gear brands, sports federations, retailers, resorts, and organizations. The shared goal: to strengthen cooperation and accelerate measurable progress toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient future for winter sports.

“Brands, resorts, sports federations, and more work together to create an inspiring winter experience. But with climate change challenging our industry, we must use that same collective spirit to drive meaningful progress. The Ski Industry Climate Summit is the place to do that.”
Jonas Schneider from POW Europe.

“This summit is more than a conference. It’s where the ski industry defines its future. New entrants will find valuable updates on regulatory dynamics, direct
access to innovators and decision-makers, and unmatched networking opportunities to accelerate growth and impact, because no one can take on the sustainability challenges on their own.”
Jerome Pero, Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry

High-Level Agenda and Topics
The 2026 edition will open on January 13 with (closed) WSN working group meetings, where experts will address technical fields such as ecodesign and
recycling, LCA and decarbonization, traceability and compliance, and climate advocacy.
The main conference on January 14–15 will focus on new initiatives and strategic priorities driving progress across the winter sports ecosystem:

• Regulations and compliance: European and U.S. legislation
shaping sustainability and production in the sporting goods
industry.
• Market perspectives: Insights from international industry bodies
on trends, business transformation, and economic impacts of
climate change.
• Industry key wins: Success stories, effective collaborations, and
proven solutions from federations, resorts, and industry partners,
such as innovations in materials, recycling systems, and circular
business models that combine environmental and economic
benefits.
• Winter sports ecosystem key challenges: operational,
environmental, and market changes that all stakeholders are
facing and where collective action can make the biggest impact.

Full event information, registration details, and the developing agenda can be found on the Summit’s website:

Denis Dietrich
Atomic Austria GmbH
denis.dietrich@atomic.com
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CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Girls on the Run International is proud to announce the appointment of Marisa Kwiatkowski, director of journalism at the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Kelly Coker-Daniel, retired principal, assistant superintendent, and former chair of the Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) school board, to its board of directors. Their diverse expertise will help further the organization’s commitment to inspiring girls to build confidence, connection, and lifelong healthy habits.

Kwiatkowski brings a distinguished 20-year journalism career, most recently serving on USA TODAY’s national investigative team before joining Knight Foundation in 2024. Her award-winning work has sparked national conversations, driven policy reform, and strengthened protections for children. She is widely recognized for her investigative series with The Indianapolis Star on USA Gymnastics and its handling of child sexual abuse allegations, including those involving former team doctor Larry Nassar. She has received more than 60 journalism awards for her contributions to public service and the protection of vulnerable populations. At Knight Foundation, Kwiatkowski manages a portfolio that includes more than $200 million in grants and endowments relating to local journalism, the First Amendment, legal support, and more. She regularly evaluates new proposals and has led the development and refinement of one of the foundation’s strategic focus areas, while also contributing to others.

“As a former board member for both Girls on the Run Indiana Crossroads and Girls on the Run Central Indiana, I know the difference this organization is making in the lives of so many girls,” said Kwiatkowski. “Throughout my professional life, I’ve seen the profound impact that safe, supportive environments can have on young people, and I look forward to contributing as a national board member to a mission that empowers girls to share their ideas, embrace their uniqueness, and step boldly into their futures.”

Coker-Daniel brings a wealth of experience as an accomplished educator serving as a teacher, principal, regional superintendent, and assistant superintendent. During her career, she expanded school choice options for all children, oversaw a 69-million-dollar budget, and led multiple divisions across the school district. Working with parents, local business leaders, and school principals, she successfully established new workforce development programs, expanded dual enrollment options, and achieved record-high district graduation rates. Following three decades at Duval County Public Schools, she served as a school board member for District 1 in Jacksonville, Florida, representing a constituency of over 92,000 voters. She has also served on the board of Girls on the Run Northeast Florida, the leadership team for Leadership Jax, and the board of the Adult Literacy Alliance of Northeast Florida. Currently, she serves as secretary to the board of directors at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.

“As a lifelong runner, mother of a participant in Girls on the Run, and former Girls on the Run board member in Northeast Florida, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to support the work being done internationally by this amazing organization,” said Coker-Daniel. “I spent decades of my life as an educational leader in schools, watching this program have a positive impact on its participants. Being a part of this program gives young girls a sense of belonging, fosters positive self-esteem, and gives them the confidence to truly be their best selves. I look forward to supporting the dedicated staff and countless volunteers who make this work happen on behalf of young people throughout all of the Girls on the Run programs!”

Girls on the Run Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Kunz celebrated the appointments, noting the impact both leaders will have as the organization enters its 30th anniversary year. “Marisa and Kelly bring remarkable expertise, unwavering integrity, and a shared passion for empowering young people. Each has experience supporting safer and stronger systems for youth, and we are honored to welcome them to our board of directors. Their leadership will help fuel our mission and expand the impact Girls on the Run is having on the lives of girls across North America.”

For more information about Girls on the Run International, please visit girlsontherun.org.

About Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run creates and offers empowering after-school programs designed for girls in grades 3 to 8. The nonprofit helps participants build confidence, increase physical activity, and develop life skills like managing emotions, resolving conflicts, and forming friendships. With the support of trained coaches, team members activate their limitless potential through a blend of physical activities and engaging lessons. The research-based curriculum explores topics relevant to 8- to 13-year-old girls, such as building resiliency and standing up for oneself and others. The program includes a Community Impact Project and culminates with a celebratory 5K. Since 1996, Girls on the Run has served more than 2.7 million girls across all 50 states and Canada. Discover more at girlsontherun.org.

Kelly McGuire
Girls on the Run International
kmcguire@girlsontherun.org
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RaceX unveils World Cup Pathway 2027, a limited ownership initiative built for investors seeking exposure at the highest level of international racing.

DUBAI, MEYDAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, January 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — RaceX, a Dubai-based racehorse ownership and syndication platform, has unveiled World Cup World Cup Pathway 2027, a limited ownership initiative structured around participation at the highest level of international horse racing.

The initiative references the Dubai World Cup, widely recognized as the world’s richest race, with a total prize purse of approximately USD $12 million. The race is run annually at Meydan Racecourse over 2,000 metres on dirt and regularly attracts elite runners from major racing jurisdictions including the United States, Japan, Europe, and the Middle East.

Despite its prize money and visibility, entry into the Dubai World Cup is highly restricted. The race typically draws a field of around 12 horses, selected based on performance, ratings, suitability to dirt conditions, and current form. Participation is determined through merit-based qualification rather than ownership profile or financial commitment.

World Cup 2027 is structured around the long-term development of quality horses, supported by a disciplined preparation programme and a limited ownership group aligned to a defined competitive objective. The initiative is designed to reflect the realities of elite racing, where outcomes are shaped by early decisions on horse selection, placement, and preparation over multiple seasons.

While capital is required to acquire, train, and campaign a racehorse at this level, money alone does not secure progression. Many high-value horses never qualify for Dubai World Cup night due to timing, form cycles, soundness, or lack of suitability to local conditions. As a result, success at this level is typically the outcome of cumulative, well-judged decisions rather than isolated investments.

World Cup Pathway 2027 sits above RaceX’s existing syndicate operations and is intended for investors who understand the difference between exposure to racing and earned participation at its highest tier. The initiative does not offer guarantees or assumptions of outcome, instead applying experience, governance, and structured decision-making to reduce avoidable risk.

RaceX operates from within the UAE racing environment and applies hands-on experience gained through racehorse ownership, selection, and management. This proximity enables decisions to be made in line with local racing programmes, regulatory requirements, and realistic performance benchmarks.

World Cup Pathway 2027 reflects growing interest among investors in structured and transparent ownership pathways toward elite racing objectives, particularly within the Middle East, where racing operates within a tightly regulated, merit-based framework and participation at the highest-level carries both financial and reputational significance.

Further information about RaceX and the World Cup Pathway 2027 initiative is available at
https://racex.ae/dubai-world-cup-2027

Jennifer McShane Bary
RaceX
+971 55 929 4515
email us here
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CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Cre8tive Con, Chicago’s premier business conference, announced that entrepreneur, author, and leadership expert David Meltzer, the Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute will return as a featured speaker at the upcoming conference, bringing his proven, values-driven business wisdom back to the stage as he prepares to release his newest book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, on Super Bowl Sunday. The book is available for pre-order now via Simon & Schuster.

Meltzer, the former CEO of Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, the firm that inspired the film Jerry Maguire. Meltzer is known for translating high-stakes business experience into practical guidance. Early in his career, his first major task included finalizing negotiations to bring the NFL’s Rams back to Los Angeles from St. Louis. From that moment forward, Meltzer adopted a defining principle passed down by his mentor: “Don’t negotiate to the last penny. Always be fair. Don’t do business with dicks.”

That philosophy now anchors his latest book, Don’t Do Business with Dicks, which distills decades of leadership lessons into actionable strategies for building meaningful relationships, maintaining integrity, and navigating business with clarity and intention. Through real-world anecdotes and practical frameworks, Meltzer challenges readers to eliminate negativity, align actions with values, and cultivate sustainable success.
At Cre8tive Con, Meltzer’s sessions will focus on the intersection of mindset, monetization, and purpose, offering attendees tools they can immediately apply—whether scaling a brand, leading a team, or redefining success on their own terms. His return reflects the continued demand for real-world insight grounded in experience, accountability, and long-term thinking.

Cre8tive Con brings together entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders who understand that growth requires more than tactics alone. By blending modern business strategy, media visibility, and high-level networking, the conference creates an environment where insight turns into momentum.
“David embodies what Cre8tive Con stands for—real experience, real leadership, and real strategies that help people build businesses and lives they’re proud of,” organizers said.

For media inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or registration information, contact:
chris@cre8tivecon.com

Julie Drost Lokun
The Mediacasters
+1 847-361-9519
email us here

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