With COVID-19 cases back on the rise in the San Joaquin Valley, we wanted to remind you of California’s current guidelines on COVID-19 in the workplace. The California Department of Industrial Relations Division of Occupational Safety & Health Publication Unit...
COVID-19
COVID-19 Update: Revised Exclusion Timeline and Mask Guidance
On March 3, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced new COVID-19 guidelines that will go into effect on Monday, March 13, 2023. These new guidelines will replace current guidelines. Sierra HR Partners has developed an updated document summarizing...
COVID-19 Update: Cal/OSHA’s Non-Emergency COVID Standard
After almost three years of being in an "emergency" state, Cal/OSHA has finally published its non-emergency COVID-19 standard. Last month, Cal/OSHA submitted its non-emergency COVID regulation to the state for final approval. The state Office of Administrative Law...
COVID-19 Update: Cal/OSHA Is Ready to End Exclusion Pay Requirements
The “exclusion pay” requirement is almost behind us – but not quite. “Exclusion pay” refers to the requirement that an employer maintain “an employee’s earnings, wages, seniority, and all other employee rights and benefits” if the employee is excluded from work for...
COVID-19 Update: CDPH Ends Indoor Mask Mandate for Unvaccinated Employees
On February 15, 2022, Governor Newsom announced the end of California's indoor mask mandate for fully-vaccinated individuals. Effective today, March 1, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has also removed the requirement for unvaccinated individuals to...
COVID-19 Update: California Ends Its Indoor Mask Mandate – What Do We Do Now?
California's indoor mask mandate, imposed on December 13, 2021 in response to surging cases of the Omicron variant, will officially expire tomorrow, February 15, 2022. Governor Newsom's office cited falling case numbers as the basis for ending the requirement for face...
COVID-19 Update: California Implements 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
On January 25, 2022, Governor Newsom’s office published a press release announcing the return of Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (see our HR Headliner here). That legislation was passed by the state Senate on February 7, and was signed by Governor Newsom today, February...
COVID-19 Update: California Revives COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
As you know, beginning in 2020, state and federal law created paid sick leave benefits for employees who were excluded from work due to a variety of qualifying reasons relating to COVID-19. With the expiration of those programs on September 30, 2021, employees have...
OSHA Vaccine Mandate Struck Down by Supreme Court – What This Means for California Employers
OSHA Vaccine Mandate Struck Down by Supreme Court What This Means for California Employers by Doug Larsen The OSHA Vaccine Mandate The Secretary of Labor enacted a vaccine mandate covering almost all employers with at least 100 employees. It requires...
COVID-19 Update: Cal/OSHA Aligns Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine with CDPH
COVID-19 Update: Cal/OSHA Aligns Guidance for Isolation and Quarantine with CDPH The number of executive agencies, at both the state and federal level, advising on or regulating individual behavior during this pandemic, and the frequency with which those...
HR News
Culture is a Compliance Tool Part 3: Leading With Facts, Not Fear
Culture is a Compliance Tool Part 3: Leading With Facts, Not Fear It's common for supervisors to hear statements like, "I read online that you can't do that," or "My friend who’s an attorney says that’s illegal," or “My doctor says I don’t have to tell you anything...
More HR Wisdom from Hollywood Drama
What We Can Learn From the Blake Lively/Justin Baldoni Saga In January 2025, when news was breaking about Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, we saw an important lesson for HR managers about navigating the resignation of potentially toxic...
2026 HR Checklist: Steps to Start the New Year Right
2026 HR Checklist: Steps to Start the New Year Right Can you believe we’re in the year 2026?! If your business feels anything like ours, it’s already off and running in a big way. Each new year brings new legislation, updated documents, and changing regulations, so HR...
Real Talk, Real Growth: The Case for Honest Feedback
Real Talk, Real Growth: The Case for Honest Feedback September 2025 At Sierra HR, we often hear from managers who are frustrated with an employee’s unreliable attendance, or subpar performance, or lack of initiative and motivation. “What should we do?” the manager...
