FELS Newsletter: December 2025

FELS Newsletter, December 2025

Safety Training for Agricultural Workers: Injury and Illness Prevention Program

FELS sometimes receives from members and non-members alike questions about the particulars of California’s minimum wage and overtime premium pay requirements. California Minimum Wage: As of Jan. 1, California’s minimum wage will rise by 40 cents to $16.90 hour for most nonexempt employees, both agricultural and non-agricultural (see California Minimum Wage Rises to $16.90 on […]

In 2008, the California Legislature established the Occupational Safety and Health Fund, funded by workers’ comp premium assessments paid by California employers. For 2026, employers’ assessments will rise 238% from 2024, reaching a total assessment of nearly $217 million. Seeking to provide stable funding for the agency, the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) sometimes over […]

The hazardous nature of agricultural employment is widely discussed, and opportunities certainly exist for serious injuries on farms, such as from working with large animals, manure impoundments, large machinery, driving large and heavy vehicles on rural roadways, and many more. Reports of fatalities by industry and employment classification indicate that agricultural fatalities to this point […]

The United Farm Workers (UFW) and 18 farm workers sued the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) on Nov. 21 to invalidate the DoL’s Oct. 2 Interim Final Rule (IFR) revising the calculation methodology for the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), the key wage standard for the H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa program (see DOL Issues Rule […]

Employers in California must notify employees every year about the Earned Income Tax Credit. Further, an employer must process, upon an employee’s request and as per federal law, Internal Revenue Service Form W-5 for advance payments of the EITC. The EITC Information Act, codified in Revenue and Taxation Code sections 19850 to 19854, covers every […]

The holiday season is a welcome opportunity to recognize employees and build connections. It also brings unique challenges for HR professionals who must balance celebration with compliance, safety, and fairness. With thoughtful planning, though, employers can create a positive experience for everyone while reducing legal and operational risk. Office Parties: Celebrate Safely and Inclusively: Holiday […]

A common conundrum for employers is what to do when they accidentally overpay employees. Even the most diligent employers are not immune from inadvertent overpayments, especially when grappling with an increasingly complex landscape of compensation processes and systems. Perhaps the most frequent causes of these inadvertent overpayments are simple clerical errors. These come in a […]

FELS Employment Notifications posters and books kits are available for order now. FELS will begin deliveries on Jan. 15. FELS Employment Notifications products are specifically designed for agricultural employers in California. The 2026 Poster & Book Set includes all required state and federal employment notices, helping you meet requirements and avoid costly penalties. The Notifications […]