[Source: HRWatchdog/CalChamber] Our nonexempt employees answer texts and calls after-hours. Is this work time and how much time would we pay for a five-minute call, for example? Yes, in most instances, answering short calls, texts and emails would meet the definition of hours worked found in the Industrial Welfare Commission Orders, Section 2: “Hours worked” Read More…
Newsroom
L.A. weighs charging drivers by the mile, adding freeway tolls to cut congestion
[Source: Los Angeles Times] For years, Southern California lawmakers have tried to steer clear of decisions that make driving more expensive or miserable, afraid of angering one of their largest groups of constituents. But now, transportation officials say, congestion has grown so bad in Los Angeles County that politicians have no choice but to contemplate Read More…
Air board’s plan to raise fees threatens our economy and climate goals
[Source: CalChamber / Allan Zaremberg] California produces just 1 percent of atmospheric carbon emissions, yet global leaders and activists care about California regulations. Why is this? It’s the same reason that California politicos insist on our unique climate regulations. Governors and legislators–here and globally–count on California’s leadership to translate into solutions applicable around the world. Read More…
Newsom’s picks for environmental protection and water chiefs will reveal his priorities
[Source: San Francisco Chronicle] One of the keys to former Gov. Jerry Brown’s success as California’s chief executive over the past eight years was the stellar group of individuals he recruited as his top environmental and water officials. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initial, senior environmental appointments suggest that he is wisely following in Brown’s footsteps. Californians Read More…
FBI corruption inquiry could bring political fallout for Eric Garcetti and other L.A. leaders
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Mayor Eric Garcetti crisscrossed the country last year, arguing that Los Angeles is setting an example by boosting the minimum wage and investing in public transit, a record he says stands in contrast to the dysfunction of Washington, D.C. But if Garcetti runs for president, he could also face uncomfortable questions Read More…
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions spiked in 2018 — and it couldn’t happen at a worse time
[Source: The Washington Post] U.S. carbon dioxide emissions rose an estimated 3.4 percent in 2018, according to new research — a jarring increase that comes as scientists say the world needs to be aggressively cutting its emissions to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change. The findings, published Tuesday by the independent economic research firm Read More…
People are fleeing California — here’s why
[Source: PATCH] People come and go for a variety of reasons: Job change. Retirement. A close family member falls ill. In California, residents most often come and go for employment-related reasons. That’s according to the 42nd annual “National Movers Study,” conducted by United Van Lines and published last week. The study tracked its customers’ state-to-state Read More…
Labor Commissioner releases “blacklist” of port trucking companies
[Source: CalChamber] A new law, SB 1402, went into effect on January 1 of this year and imposes joint liability on client employers who hire port drayage motor carriers (port trucking companies) with certain unpaid employment-related judgments. Under Labor Code section 2810.4, a “port drayage motor carrier” includes any company or individual that hires or Read More…
Dems aim to bring big-government programs to floor vote with 2019 House takeover
[Source: By Fred Lucas | Fox News] Expect to hear the words “free,” “guaranteed” and “for all” a whole lot more in the new year as Democrats prepare an arsenal of big-government bills that could actually see a floor vote once they take control of the House. Come January, proposals like “Medicare for all” and Read More…