Last month we let you know that Cal/OSHA would soon be providing updates to its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding COVID-19 safety in the workplace. After a delay and a few revisions, the proposed changes were approved June 3, and will become effective June...
HR Headliner
Adding Paid Sick Leave, Including Supplemental COVID-19 PSL to the Paycheck Stub
Written By Doug Larsen PSL Benefits. Almost every California employee is entitled to 24 hours or three days of PSL annually. Effective on March 29, 2021 the state of California has required employers of more than 25 employees to provide up to 10 days or 80 hours of...
COVID-19: Navigating the (Slow) Return to Normal
In Fresno County and surrounding areas, we're seeing encouraging signs of a return to mostly-normal life. Vaccinations are ongoing, and the decrease in COVID cases has brought us into the state's Orange Tier for the first time. While we're all thankful for these steps...
February 2021 COVID-19: Action Steps for Moving Forward
The past year has felt a lot like trying to juggle on a unicycle - addressing multiple urgent situations at the same time, while trying to keep our balance in the face of changing regulations, safety protocols, and shut-down orders. But now, with case rates slowing...
October 2020: New Leave Requirements for Employers of 5+
Last month, Governor Newsom signed into law SB 1383, which expands the coverage of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to employers of 5 or more employees effective January 1, 2021. These leave requirements will have a significant impact on virtually all...
September 2020: Lost Wages Assistance and Payroll Tax Holiday Updates
September 2020 Lost Wages Assistance and Payroll Tax Holiday Updates Just in case you weren't closely watching the news, August 8, 2020 was International Cat Day and actor Dustin Hoffman's 83rd birthday. It was the 122nd anniversary of the invention of Corn Flakes and...
COVID-19 Update: The Use of Expanded FMLA Leave for Distance Learning
New legal guidance indicates that an employee may be eligible to use up to 12 weeks of Expanded FMLA to facilitate the distance learning needsof his/her child(ren.) With most California schools unable to begin on-campus instruction anytime in the near future, parents...
COVID-19 Update: New CDC Guidance on Home Isolation
On July 20th, the CDC published updated recommendations for home-isolation due to COVID-19 symptoms, infection, and exposure. A test-based strategy is no longer recommended. According to the CDC, "Accumulating evidence supports ending isolation and precautions for...
Back to School… Sort Of
On Friday, July 17, Governor Newsom announced plans for how California schools would be permitted to operate for the 2020-2021 school year. Schools located in counties that are on the state's Monitoring List for COVID-19 cases must not physically open for in-person...
June 2020: Workers’ Compensation Coverage for COVID-19 Infections
On May 6, 2020, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order establishing a presumed eligibility for workers' compensation benefits for employees who contract COVID-19 at work. Prior to this pandemic, having an infectious illness such as the flu would not entitle...
HR News
UPDATE: Healthcare Minimum Wage Increase Effective Soon (We Think)
UPDATE: Healthcare Minimum Wage Increase Effective Soon (We Think) If you're in the healthcare field or your company is at all connected to the healthcare industry, you've been following the status of California's rising minimum wage for healthcare workers. The...
California’s Minimum Wage Is On The Rise Again
California's Minimum Wage Is On The Rise Again The end of the year is approaching, and your business may be budgeting for minimum wage increases. Do you know how much you will be paying on January 1, 2025? Unfortunately, due to a ballot measure planned for this...
COVID-19 Cases Are on the Rise: Reminders for Keeping Your Employees Safe and Complying with California’s Guidelines
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...
Cal/OSHA Indoor Heat Illness Protections Become Effective July 24, 2024
In 2005, California introduced its outdoor heat standard for employers. Then in 2016, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1167, which directed Cal/OSHA to create a heat standard for indoor places of employment by January 1, 2019. Almost eight years since that bill was...
