Archive for month: September, 2014

Employers possibly even outside of California will be dealing with another new labor law next July 1 – three days of paid sick leave is now required for almost all workers.

In a public bill signing ceremony by Gov. Jerry Brown, in Los Angeles earlier this month Gov. Brown proclaimed that, “Whether you’re a dishwasher in San Diego or a store clerk in Oakland, this bill frees you of having to choose between your family’s health and your job.” Adding, “Make no mistake, California is putting its workers first.” The Governor’s office claimed that about 6.5 million, or 40 percent, of California’s “workforce” does not receive any paid sick leave. This number seems suspiciously inflated and likely includes the self-employed and independent contractors too. Read more

California courts can’t seem to burden employers enough. Last month it was mandatory provided and paid for meal and rest breaks for truck drivers. This month it is cell phone use and expenses. What’s next?

In an August 12th decision, a Los Angeles based State Appeals Court ruled that employers must pay their employees a “reasonable” reimbursement for the business use of the employees’ cell phone. Read more

When the LA Ports “Clean Truck” Concession Agreement scheme was hatched in 2007, everyone involved understood the games and politics that were being played behind the scenes.

Under the moniker of “clean air at all cost”, as diesel emissions were claimed back then to cause 18,000 premature deaths annually in California, these incessant health claims were the only way to get public and political support to get rid of all the old junk trucks that worked around the ports. Thus the enviros, made-up of many powerful NGOs, and special interests in-turn paid for all the community activists – their end game was to get all new clean diesel trucks at the port, and eventually require all trucks to run on clean renewable – mainly electric by 2020 or 2025. Read more

On July 14, we sent a letter to DIR questioning this new $300 tax to work on a Public Works construction job site as a result of yet another labor backed bill.

Promptly on August 4, DIR sent a response back to us saying that “Yes” all workers employed by contractors and subcontractors in the execution of any contract for public work are deemed to be employed upon public work.” Than the response spins two other kind of related court decisions into state laws have concluded that trucking companies that worked for a contractor or subcontractor and preformed an integral part of the contract where really “subcontractors” too. A copy of the DIR response in located on our website. Read more