News

Cal/OSHA Issues Updated FAQs on ETS January 18, 2021 On January 8, 2021 Cal-OSHA published new Frequently Asked Questions to assist with the implementation of the Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) that were issued in November 2020. The FAQs help clarify and answer questions that the agency received about the COVID-19 Prevention ETS since its implementation. Specifically… Continue Reading

MANDATORY FFCRA BENEFITS EXPIRED  January 11, 2021 When the FFCRA was enacted, private employers with 500 or fewer employers were required to provide employees with up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and up to 10 weeks of paid expanded family leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Employers were entitled to a dollar-for-dollar tax credit… Continue Reading

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE REMINDER – JANUARY 1, 2021 December 9, 2020 Employers are reminded that on January 1, 2021, the state minimum wage will increase despite so many businesses having been hit with drastic economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Requests have been presented to Gov. Newsom to delay the scheduled minimum wage increase to help… Continue Reading

CAL OSHA STRICT NEW STANDARDS IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS December 4, 2020 In response to the continuing surge in COVID-19 cases, on November 30, 2020 the Cal OSHA Standards Board approved new Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) imposing significant and substantial new workplace regulations on all California employers which become effective immediately. These ETS will be in effect… Continue Reading

CALIFORNIA LIMITED STAY AT HOME ORDER EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 21 On Thursday November 20, California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “We are sounding the alarm” and in conjunction with the California Depart of Public Health, issued a limited “Stay at Home” Order. For counties in the purple tier non-essential businesses and personal gatherings are prohibited between 10 PM… Continue Reading

As we prepare for cooler weather, and the upcoming holiday season, we also need to prepare for the many new employment laws that will take effect January 1, 2021. In the final days before the deadline to sign or veto proposed legislation, Governor Newsom was busy signing many new bills affecting California businesses. We addressed some… Continue Reading

POTENTIAL JOINT EMPLOYER LIABILITY WITH STAFFING AGENCIES Employers (referred to as “client-employer”) who obtain workers through a “labor contractor” (e.g. staffing agencies) can be held liable for the wage and hour violations committed by the staffing agency even if the employer has already paid the staffing agency for the labor services provided. This liability was created… Continue Reading

Prior to COVID-19 working remotely was not a common-place occurrence for businesses; however, with the concerns surrounding returning to work in this COVID-19 era, working remotely may be an option for employees that continues for some time. There are numerous factors that should be taken into consideration when dealing with a remote work force. Reimbursement of… Continue Reading

NEW LAW IMPOSES NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ON EMPLOYERS On September 17, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 685 which imposes upon employers the requirement to provide written notifications to employees within one business day of receiving notice of potential exposure to COVID-19. In addition, employers must submit a report to Cal-OSHA. The law takes effect on January… Continue Reading