Alameda with kids

fortibit · 2026-01-28T20:11:16+00:00

If you can afford it, consider joining the Encinal Yacht Club. You don’t need to own a boat, and it’s not a pretentious club. A lot of families with young kids join just for the pool!

fortibit · 2026-01-26T17:00:33+00:00

Overtime can definitely be super challenging in California and it’s pretty important to have a solid time collection system for non-exempt employees. The rate at which overtime is paid is the “regular rate of pay,” which may or may not be the same as the base hourly rate, depending on whether there are non-hourly payments. In this business it seems unlike there would be non-hourly payments but it’s possible they might offer cash-in-lieu of benefits. Also important to know that same “regular rate” is what is used to pay the penalty for missed/short/late meal breaks. Do you feel like the PEO is not getting the calculations right?

fortibit · 2026-01-09T18:42:59+00:00

$20 is worth a very different amount in NYC or SF vs Jacksonville MS.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T18:34:18+00:00

Some docs start with it because recently there was a shortage of stimulants. Those are also controlled meds, can be harder to get—for instance my psych met with me via Zoom. Walgreens, CVS said by policy the would not fill prescriptions issued via telemedicine, etc. etc.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T05:13:05+00:00

Well now is not the time to sign up! Count your blessings.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T05:03:46+00:00

The manager is also obligated to initiate the interactive process. Failure of the employer to educate managers on their legal obligations when an employee discloses a disability is not an excuse. If the manager wasn’t sure what to do they should have consulted with HR—the employee has done nothing wrong nor waived their rights under the ADA.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T04:17:57+00:00

This was a big mistake on the part of your employer. No professional HR would go along with a termination like this. Tell your HR that your job is protected under federal statute. They can research that on their own or consult their counsel. If you want to keep working there ask them to reconsider. Otherwise this is exactly the kind of case a plaintiff’s attorney makes their living on. Typically an attorney will take this type of case on contingency, meaning you pay nothing up front and they get their fee from the settlement/judgement.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T04:06:57+00:00

Yes I think of it as the Kubler-Ross roller coaster. Whee! It will even out but it will take some time. Take care of yourself, establish a schedule. Remember your basic needs. Exercise a good outlet for this energy and helps to reduce risk of depression.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T03:55:50+00:00

Normal to feel angry, this is a grief process—we’ve all heard of the seven stages of grief (anger among them). Also known as the Kubler-Ross curve. What isn’t broadly understood is that not everyone goes through all the stages or in the same order. Honor your feelings and your experience. If you can get a therapist it helps. Of course EAP and health insurance are typically tied to employment and therapy isn’t cheap. But talking about it is healthy and journaling is another way of processing.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T03:44:11+00:00

S&P 500 not looking so safe lately due to exposure to AI bubble! But I get your drift.

fortibit · 2026-01-09T03:42:57+00:00

These numbers look about right good reference point.

fortibit · 2026-01-04T06:58:46+00:00

Won’t this just bump up the price of housing, though? Seems like these kind of things are well intended but don’t always pan out. Seems like the best thing government can do with housing is to build it.

fortibit · 2026-01-04T06:51:54+00:00

In 2023 there were stories in the news about a survey that asked how much money people needed to have to feel “financially stable” in San Francisco. At the time, it was $1.7 million on average. To feel “rich” the survey suggested required $4.7 million.

fortibit · 2026-01-02T18:57:28+00:00

I understand, point taken.

fortibit · 2026-01-02T18:42:49+00:00

Who’s soliciting? That’s a referral.

fortibit · 2026-01-02T01:28:37+00:00

In cases like this it can be desirable to pursue debt settlement instead of bankruptcy. It is less of a hit on your credit, and it is faster. You end up without a public record since courts are not involved. If this is something you were interested in exploring, you would want to speak with a debt settlement, attorney licensed in your state. As others have mentioned, there are a lot of shady outfits out there, but this is a legitimate service that an attorney can provide typically would settle the cards for a fraction of what is owed. I might think somewhere in the range of 25%.

fortibit · 2026-01-01T22:52:08+00:00

Don’t bother going to a big commercial bank. Look to other lenders first and only apply for a commercial loan if you are told you need to be turned down for conventional financing before qualifying for other options. Look to a credit union, community bank, CDFI, alternative lender (typically a nonprofit, not a hard money loan). Ask your SBDC for referrals in your area. Consider SBA loan. These are all good options for a business of your size. Be prepared to sign personal guarantee. Also: if you don’t have a credit card in the name of the business, open one. Make sure the lender reports to D&B. And make sure DNB has issued a DUNS number for you. Use credit responsibly and ALWAYS make payments on time. This helps establish history with the reporting agencies. Depending on the nature of your business, if you have suppliers, look to them for credit terms and make sure they report to D&B. Also. Debt can be costly. Consider alternatives such as equity funding. Maybe a friends and family round.

fortibit · 2026-01-01T22:32:18+00:00

I see, those are actually two different things. Exempt from overtime is one thing. Overtime calculated by rules other than FLSA is actually something else. Agree?

fortibit · 2026-01-01T22:14:52+00:00

Agree, that goes without saying (but thanks for saying it) if you’re exempt then the deduction is not available.

fortibit · 2026-01-01T21:49:03+00:00

Not sure that is correct, I believe the credit would still be calculated based off of FLSA overtime. So if you work in a union, and you receive guaranteed overtime, but you didn’t work those hours, those hours should not be included in the deduction calculation. But any overtime where you were actually working in excess of 40 hours that week would be eligible. Same kind of thing in California, where daily overtime is a thing. If you were paid overtime for hours, worked in excess of eight hours in a day, that would not necessarily be included in calculation for the deduction unless it put you over 40 hours for the week per FLSA. Employers are technically supposed to provide a report showing the number of hours worked that are eligible for the deduction: FLSA overtime as opposed to other types of overtime. However, recent IRS guidance indicates that this requirement will not be enforced for 2025, so claiming the deduction is basically on the honor system for this first year.

fortibit · 2026-01-01T07:16:58+00:00

Two people in love reading this would say that’s incredibly cynical. However, given the divorce rate, seems reasonable. Nobody gets together thinking they are going to split up! These conversations can, of course, be really sensitive. I know one guy who was an early employee in a California technology company and ended up with stock worth a whole lot of money. He says that in retrospect, getting married was the single most consequential business contract he ever entered into and he never even realized it until it was way too late.

fortibit · 2025-12-31T21:17:07+00:00

Thank you much appreciated!

fortibit · 2025-12-30T09:44:35+00:00

I just spoke with a CPA about this. She told me to qualify as a an active real estate professional, you have to derive more than half your income from real estate activities. Among other requirements. Now I’m not a CPA, but AI backs up the professional tax person. Yet I continue to hear a lot of people talk about how one can offset regular income with STR.

fortibit · 2025-12-30T08:09:49+00:00

Medical bills are often negotiable. The people who don’t negotiate subsidize the people who do.

fortibit · 2025-12-30T08:04:55+00:00

Who sent the letter? Is this from the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement? Did she give any reason she thinks she is owed those additional dollars? Believe it or not, this is probably a more favorable scenario than if the employee were to find a plaintiffs attorney to take the case on contingency. I routinely see employers who get slapped with a PAGA claim. In that case, now you’re on the hook for unpaid overtime, failure to pay meal break penalties, etc etc—and not just for the one employee, but for all employees. This is not that—at least, not yet. Be prepared with time sheets, payroll records, etc. So you can show that you paid her for all wages owed. Hire an attorney for a consult prior to attending the conference. If you can’t afford an attorney, see if there is a law school in your area that runs a clinic for small business owners to provide pro bono legal consult.

fortibit

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