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Jan 072020 IRS Mileage Rates
On December 31, 2019 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) finally issued the 2020 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning January 1, 2020, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 57.5 cents per mile for business miles driven (down a half cent from the 2019 rate). 17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes (down three
Nov 06Harassment Isn't Confined to Physical Presence or Working Hours
Sexual harassment looks much different today than in years past, when managers only had to worry about racy pinup calendars and in-person interactions at the office. But thanks to technology, employees are interacting with each other in ways not possible 15 to 20 years ago — they don't even need to be physically at work. Text messaging, emails accessible on a smartphone, and posting on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat (where posts almost instantly disappear) present numerous workplace
Oct 01Harassment Training Deadline Extended, Clarified
As you may remember, on January 1, 2019, a new California law went into effect that made substantial changes to mandatory sexual harassment prevention training. Under SB 1343, all employers with five or more employees must provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees — supervisors must receive two hours of training and non-supervisory employees must receive one hour. Training must take place within six months of hire or promotion and every two years thereafter. Shortly after SB 1343’s
Aug 21CalChamber: Proposal Would Make Wildfire Smoke Protection Rule More Stringent
An emergency regulation issued from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board on July 29, 2019 requires California employers to take steps to protect workers from potential harm due to exposure from wildfire smoke. Some of the steps required in the emergency rule (which kicks in when air quality erodes to specified levels) include relocating workers to other sites or providing respirators in the most severe circumstances. Last week, the California Chamber of Commerce
Aug 21CalChamber: What to Do If Immigration Officials Come Knocking
In this week’s episode of The Workplace, CalChamber President Allan Zaremberg discusses with immigration expert Kevin Johnson, Dean of the UC Davis School of Law what employers are required to do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials raid a job site or ask to inspect records. Under the Obama administration, ICE officials focused primarily on deporting undocumented immigrants who were in jail or prison, and more or less backed off of workplace enforcement. Now under the Trump
Aug 08CalChamber: Employer Requirements Under California’s Emergency Wildfire Smoke Regulation
If you have outdoor workers — or indoor workers exposed to outside air or who spend an hour outside — this affects you. On July 29, 2019, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board’s emergency regulation to protect outdoor workers from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke became effective. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has been developing these standards for several months. The process began in response to a petition Cal/OSHA received on
Aug 08CalChamber: ICE Heats Up Form I-9 Audits: What California Employers Need to Do If They Get a Notice
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued thousands of Form I-9 audit notices this summer. As ICE worksite enforcement continues to increase, California employers need to keep in mind state requirements when served with a Form I-9 audit notice. California’s Immigrant Worker Protection Act has been in effect since January 2018 and, even though the Department of Justice challenged the law, California employers have several notice obligations when facing an ICE audit/inspection. Upon receiving
Jun 242019 May - Santa Barbara County Labor Market Info
Last Friday, the State of California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its Monthly Press Release on Unemployment and Industry Sector job growth/decline in Santa Barbara County.Highlights from this report may be found in the images below.
May 30Santa Maria Chamber Champions #RespectWorks Campaign
Recognizing the importance of an inclusive, harassment-free workplace, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is partnering with CalChamber on their #RespectWorks initiative. #RespectWorks is a campaign to promote and implement a harassment-free workplace for all Californians. The Santa Maria Chamber has embraced this effort, and invites the local business community to join in by adopting proven, best practices that will help educate workers and employers on ways to prevent workplace harassment and
May 212019 April - Santa Barbara County Labor Market Info
Last Friday, the State of California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its Monthly Press Release on Unemployment and Industry Sector job growth/decline in Santa Barbara County.Highlights from this report may be found in the images below.
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Apr 09Chamber Offers Options for Required Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
New laws require that businesses with five or more employees provide sexual harassment prevention training by January 1, 2020. Being an organization focused on serving our local business community, the Chamber felt it was important to make businesses aware of this new regulation, and offer a variety of options for local businesses to make sure they get this training complete before the deadline. The Chamber has partnered with CalChamber to offer online harassment prevention training, which makes it easy
Mar 112019 January - Santa Barbara County Labor Market Info
Today the State of California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its Monthly Press Release on Unemployment and Industry Sector job growth/decline in Santa Barbara County. Highlights from this report may be found in the images below.
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Mar 08New Law Reqires Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For All Employees
New Law Reqires Sexual Harassment Prevention Training For All Employees Businesses with five or more employees must provide training by January 1, 2020 The Chamber is Here to Help You Become Compliant! YOUR CHAMBER has partnered with the California Chamber of Commerce to provide you with access to harassment prevention training at a 20% discount. CalChamber’s program makes it easy to effectively train employees and meet your compliance obligations. The interactive online courses are affordable, easy to
