Author: James W. Ward

5321
Posted in General

2021 New Year, New Laws

Goodbye, 2020, and good riddance! As we enter 2021, the new year brings several new employment-related laws that employers should be prepared for, including: New…

6464
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

COVID-19 Emergency Regulation Now In Effect

On Monday, November 30, 2020, the Office of Administrative Law approved the new COVID-19 emergency regulation, which went into effect immediately. As previously reported, the…

5704
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workplace Safety

COVID-19 Prevention Program Emergency Regulation Adopted

On November 19, 2020, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB) voted to adopt a comprehensive and complex COVID-19 emergency regulation addressing a…

4408
Posted in Reporting Requirements

California’s Initial Pay Data Reporting Guidance Released

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) released some initial, helpful guidance on one of California’s new laws taking effect next year —…

5939
Posted in Independent Contractor

Independent Contractor or Employee? California’s Worker Classification Law Revised

Only last year California’s biggest labor law development was the new worker classification law, AB 5, which codified the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex ruling that…

10698
Posted in General

New California Employment Laws Effective Now, Coming January 1

It’s the first day of October, which means the leaves are starting to turn red and orange, pumpkin spice is everywhere, everyone is looking longingly…

COVID-19 notice and reporting requirements changes coming in 2021
8710
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Health and Safety

California Enacts New COVID-19 Notice, Reporting Requirements

On September 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 685, a new law establishing stringent COVID-19-related notice and reporting requirements for public and private employers….

8761
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Workers' Compensation

Workers’ Comp Coverage Immediately Expanded for COVID-19 Infections

On September 17, 2020, Governor Newsom signed SB 1159, which goes into effect immediately, expanding workers’ compensation coverage for employees who contract COVID-19 through the year…

6546
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Time Off

New California Supplemental COVID-19 Sick Leave Poster, Guidance Available

The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) has issued both guidance on the new COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave requirements and model posters that…

Supplemental COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Expands Immediately
8465
Posted in COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

California Governor Immediately Expands Supplemental COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

On September 9, 2020, Governor Newsom signed AB 1867, a bill that immediately expands supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons for certain employers not…