Employers required to notify employees about paid sick leave
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) reminds employers of the labor law requirement to notify their workers in writing about their rights under the Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 (Assembly bill 1522) – California’s new paid sick leave law – that took effect on July 1, 2015.Presentations from "Are You Ready for 2015," April 2015
Programs in Petaluma, Stockton, Santa Paula, Bakersfield & Fresno
Fred Walter, Walter & Prince; Heat Illness Prevention and other Cal/OSHA Issues
Cal/OSHA Heat Illness Prevention Presentation
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Employee Housing Resources
Here are employee housing resouces:
NLRB Issues Guidance Regarding Lawful Employee Handbook Policies
Source: Alejandro Valle, Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan LLP.
Employers should be aware that the National Labor Relations Act (or "NLRA") applies even to employers who do not have a unionized workforce. Due to the broad reach of the NLRA, the recent guidance issued by the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") regarding employee handbook policies is a must-read for human resources professionals and those charged with maintaining their company's employee policies.
DLSE Issues FAQs on Paid Sick Leave Use
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement is the agency charged with enforcing the new Paid Sick Leave (PSL) mandate, which takes full effect on July 1. DLSE has posted Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as a means of interpreting some parts of the PSL law that have been subject to differing understandings.
Are You Ready for 2016?
"Are You Ready for 2016?"
Every year, Sacramento mandates new requirements for agricultural employers: New Piece-Rate Pay law, New Gender Pay Equity law, State Minimum Wage increase, Implementing Paid Sick Leave: Are You Ready for 2016? Click here for program flyer.
Click here for seminar presentation materials.
Locations and dates:
- Salinas: March 2, 2016, Monterey County Farm Bureau; 9 AM registration, 9:30 AM program.
- San Luis Obispo: March 3, 2016, San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau; 1:00 PM registration, 1:30 program.(Note: registration and payment deadline for 3/3 program is end-of-business-day Feb. 25. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 805-543-3654. Registration is not complete unless the fee has been received by San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau by 2/25/2016.)
- Ukiah: March 22, 2016, Hampton Inn & Suites (co-sponsored by Mendinocino County Farm Bureau); 8:00 AM registration; 8:30 AM program.
- Santa Rosa: March 23, 2016: Sonoma County Farm Bureau; 8:00 AM registration, 8:30 AM program.
Labor Commissioner Releases Sick Leave, FLC Compliance Documents
The Office of the Labor Commissioner, also known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, has recently released documentation to allow ag employers to comply with recent legislative mandates effective January 1.
SB 1087 created a new requirement for farm labor contractors to attest that they and their supervisory personnel have not been found, within the last three years, to have committed sexual harassment. SB 1087 required the Labor Commissioner's office to create a document to permit this attestation which has been posted to the Labor Commissioner's website at this link (English and Spanish).
AB 1522, the new Paid Sick Leave (PSL) mandate, requires employers to post information about employee sick leave rights and to disclose these rights to employees at time of hire in written disclosures.
You can find the new employee informational postings at these links (English and Spanish) and the new time-of-hire disclosure at this link (English and Spanish).
FELS Fact Sheets on New Laws Available Now
FELS has made several fact sheets on new laws effective January 1 available on the FELS website for your use:
- AB 1522, Paid Sick Leave Mandate
- AB 1897, Labor Contractor Liability
- SB 1087, Farm Labor Contractor Regulation
- AB 2053, Abusive Workplace Conduct Training
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us at 800-753-9073 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
iAB 2053 (Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego) requires employers to add training on prevention of abusive conduct in the workplace to already-required bi-annual supervisor training on prevention of sexual harassment.