GOVERNOR GAVIN Newsom has signed into law legislation that would bar employers from discriminating against employees and job applicants who use cannabis on their time off. The law amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act to prohibit discrimination against an individual based on “an employer-required drug screening test” that detects the presence of “nonpsychoactive …
THE U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to not hear an appeal of the sweeping California independent contractor law known as AB 5 is likely to cause serious personnel headaches for motor carriers in the Golden State. While the law is already in effect, there had been an injunction exempting trucking companies after the California Trucking Association …
Continue reading “October 2022 – AB 5 Court Decision – Tough Choices Ahead for Trucking Businesses”
AS WILDFIRES grow in number, intensity and scope, the cost of paying for the resulting claims is causing a property insurance crisis in some parts of the state that shows no sign of disappearing anytime soon. Commercial property insurance rates have skyrocketed for businesses in areas exposed to wildfire risks. Many have received non-renewal notices …
AS INFLATION drives up salaries in all sectors, the workers’ compensation wage thresholds for construction dual class codes have increased in California as of Sept. 1, 2022. State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in July approved the recommendation by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau to increase the wage thresholds for highwage workers. The new rates …
Continue reading “October 2022 – Big Changes for Dual-Wage Class Codes”
THE MORE employees are working from home, the greater the risk that their employers’ sensitive data is also being stored on their poorly secured devices and laptops. A new study by Symantec Corp. found many workers are sharing, moving, and exposing sensitive company data as part of carrying out the requirements of their jobs, and …
Continue reading “July 2022 – Privacy Liability – Companies Bleed Data as Workers Move It Offsite”
THE U.S. Supreme Court has put a significant dent in California’s Private Attorneys General Act, which in recent years has resulted in a surge in legal actions against California employers by their workers. The law has been a huge thorn in the side of employers, who have been on the receiving end of litigation by …
Continue reading “July 2022 – Supreme Court Action – PAGA Ruling a Big Win for Employers”
CONSTRUCTION FIRMS are reeling from snowballing costs of building materials due to spiking demand and supply chain snarls, which are resulting in massive budget cost overruns. This is especially affecting construction businesses that are managing apartment or commercial projects. These cost overruns are imperiling profits – and risking red ink – on the projects after …
Continue reading “July 2022 – Construction – Spiking Materials Costs Imperil Building Projects”
THE WORKERS’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California is recommending that advisory benchmark workers’ compensation rates increase an average of 7.6% starting Sept. 1. The proposal comes as the economy heats up and workplace injuries increase, all while COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims continue growing in number. The recommendation stilll needs to be approved by Insurance …
Continue reading “July 2022 – Rating Bureau Recommends 7.6% Rate Increase”
THE WAY courts have interpreted a California law – the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which has been on the books for 18 years – has led to an explosion of lawsuits against employers during the last few years. The law has generated more than 20,000 lawsuits since 2017 at an average cost of $1.1 …
Continue reading “April 2022 – State Law Has Employers on the Defensive”
THE DEADLINE is fast approaching for employers with five or more workers in California, and who do not already off er their employees a retirement plan, to register their staff for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. Only California employers that do not off er retirement plans are required to register for CalSavers and there are …
Continue reading “April 2022 – Retirement Savings Law – CalSavers Registration for Small Employers”
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