Two new California laws, AB 1221 and AB 82, require every server of alcohol and their managers to be trained in responsible alcohol service. The new laws took effect on July 1, 2022 and require all existing alcohol servers to complete their training by August 31, 2022. New hires must complete their training within 60… Read More
Posts Categorized In: General Business
CA Supreme Court: Meal/Rest Period “Premium Pay” Is Wages
On May 22, 2022, the California Supreme Court held in Naranjo v. Spectrum Security Services, Inc. that premium payments owed by an employer to a non-exempt employee for missed meal/rest periods are “wages” and not penalties. Thus, when those premium payments are owed but not timely paid, the employer can be subject to additional penalties… Read More
Will They Stay or Will They Go? Gauging Employee Satisfaction Through “Stay Interviews”
Employee retention remains at the forefront of many employers’ minds – especially in light of the ongoing “Great Resignation.” In a recent article published by Fast Company, author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic examines the concept of “stay interviews” as a possible remedy to concerns about retention. Chamorro-Premuzic defines a stay interview as a one-on-one conversation with employees… Read More
Cal/OSHA Announces New COVID Requirements for Employers
The first version of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (“Cal/OSHA’s”) COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (“ETS”) were adopted on November 30, 2020. The ETS sets forth requirements for employers and employees on a wide range of issues related to COVID-19, including masking requirements, when testing is required, and steps to take in the event… Read More
Governor Newsom Expands Cal/OSHA’s Enforcement Power
On September 27, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 606 (“SB 606”) into law. SB 606, which will go into effect on January 1, 2022, significantly expands the enforcement authority of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (“Cal/OSHA”). SB 606 Creates New Categories of Cal/OSHA Violations SB 606 creates two new categories of… Read More
Are You Thinking About Reopening Your Workplace? Think First About Your Safety Obligations to Your Employees.
Many employers are eager to return to the office and “get things back to normal.” If you are an employer who is considering requiring or allowing employees to return to an in-person workplace (or if you have already done so), the first thing to understand is that there is no “back to normal,” at least… Read More
Updates to San Francisco’s “Safer Return Together Order” Effective August 20, 2021
Keeping up with the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape can be difficult, and the Delta variant seems to be escalating the timing for officials to get more guidelines in place. On August 12, 2021, there were some major changes made in San Francisco by the Department of Health, which will quickly go into effect. These updates were… Read More
On Today’s Hottest Topic: The Post-Lockdown Workplace
The wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown is shaping up to be an era of great confusion and uncharted territories. Rightfully so, employers are uncertain about what their workplaces will look like in a post-pandemic world. Many business owners are seeking clarity on their responsibilities and duties to their employees during this time. Some… Read More
Employers with 50+ Employees: It’s Time to Register with CalSavers
As of July 2019, more than half of Californians aged 25-64 had no retirement savings. In an effort to make saving for retirement more accessible, and therefore encourage more people to save, the State of California enacted legislation that requires employers with 5 or more California-based employees (including at least one who is age 18… Read More
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Cal/OSHA and COVID
June has been a turbulent month for Cal/OSHA – and for California employers doing their best to protect the health and safety of their employees as California begins to open up. Back and Forth After implementing detailed and complicated amended Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) on June 3, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board held an emergency meeting… Read More
