Blog
ROAD BILL
Three Cents Increase, Annual IRS Standard Mileage Rate
Asphalt Payback The Internal Revenue Service has announced its 2023 optional standard mileage reimbursement rate for employee business use of a personal vehicle, effective January 1, 2023, up from the mid-year increase of 62.5 to 65.5 cents/mile. These rates apply to electric and hybrid-electric automobiles, as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. These standard business mileage rates stem from […]
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 17
Consistency and Control on Reference Checks, Media Contact, and Bulletin Boards
KNOW THE FLOW Without clear-cut guidelines even well-intended actions can result in harmful consequences. For example, enterprising employees might be tempted to respond directly to employee requests for recommendations and/or reference letters, which could create inconsistency. A well-written reference checks policy will typically instruct employees to refrain from responding directly and refer such requests to […]
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 16
Handling Customer Discount Requests and Vendor Solicitations
Employers can and should provide employees with clear written instructions on how to respond to customer requests for discounted, free or replacement goods or services and how to field vendor solicitation for the employer’s purchase of a service, equipment, or product. Policy Drafting Tips: Explain the types of discounts or similar requests that an employee […]
INCLUSION, EXPANDED
California’s Greater Reach on Family Leave and Paid Sick Benefits
The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) prohibits businesses with five or more employees from denying an eligible worker’s request to take up to a total of 12 unpaid workweeks in any 12-month period for family care and medical leave. Assembly Bill (AB) 1041, effective for 2023, expands the class of people for whom an employee may take […]
CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE RATES FOR 2023
January 1, 2023, the California state minimum wage will be $15.50 per hour for all employers, regardless of size. The California cities and counties below have local ordinances with higher rates than the state. Employers must review and comply with the rules for any locality in which their employees work. The UC Berkeley Center for […]
OUT-OF-POCKET PROCEDURE
Business Expense Reimbursement Policy
California law requires employers to reimburse employees for all necessary work-related expenses. Courts broadly interpret this law to fully protect workers from being forced to cover their employers’ operating costs. At a minimum, an expense reimbursement policy should specify that the company will repay its employees for all reasonable and necessary business-related expenses, such as: Purchase of […]
TIME OFF MOURNING
California Requires Bereavement Leave
Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, effective January 1, 2023, requires private employers of five or more people and all public employers to provide five days of bereavement leave to employees upon the death of a child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or parent-in-law. The leave days must be taken within three months of the death […]
HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 15
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE Social Media Policy
Starting with well-drafted policy, employers should clearly define acceptable and unacceptable social media usage to ensure employees do not impermissibly disclose confidential company information, infringe third party intellectual property rights, or harass and discriminate against others. To comply with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), such policies should avoid potentially discouraging employees from discussing terms […]
WHAT’S NEW IN 2023
Covering Employment Legal Essentials and New Workplace Laws
Now’s the time to secure your spot for our virtual sessions on “what’s new” in California employment law for 2023. The all-day session – offered on two dates — includes, among much more: Hiring process, including applications, interviews, and testing; Discipline and termination; The essentials of written employment agreements, including restrictions on mandatory arbitration; Discrimination, […]
WHAT’S NEW IN 2023
TOTAL TRANSPARENCY
Currently, Labor Code 432.3 requires employers to provide the pay scale, i.e., the range of hourly or salary rates, to an applicant if requested after an initial interview.