Gail Cecchettini Whaley

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VETS Reporting Cycle Opens Today

The 2018 U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) filing season starts today, and the filing deadline is September 30, 2018. Federal...

California Wildfires: What Employers Need to Know

More than a dozen wildfires are raging up and down California, forcing evacuations and bringing tragedy and loss. The monstrous Carr fire in Shasta County...

California Supreme Court Hits Employers in Starbucks Off-the-Clock Work Case

In recent years, employers have faced lawsuits over small, or “de minimis,” amounts of unpaid time spent either before or after the employee clocks...

Court Puts Parts of California’s New Workplace Immigration Law on “ICE”

California’s Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450) provides California workers with certain protections from immigration enforcement while on the job. This law went into effect...

State to Survey Employers on Anti-Harassment, Diversity Policies

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) recently announced that it will survey California employers by telephone to ask about their anti-harassment...

IRS Encourages Workers to Get a “Paycheck Checkup”

Following major tax reform in December 2017, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is asking employers to remind workers that a “paycheck checkup” might be...

California Supreme Court Issues Worker Friendly Overtime Ruling

Overtime pay in California is based on the employee’s “regular rate of pay,” which is not always an employee’s normal hourly wage and must...

IRS, FBI Warn Employers to Beware of W-2 Phishing Scam

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently warned payroll and human resources professionals of a dangerous Form W-2...

EEO-1 Reports Must Be Filed by March 31

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has completed mailing notification letters for the 2017 EEO-1 survey. EEO-1 Survey Federal law requires all private employers with 100...

It Happened Again: Retaliation is the No. 1 EEOC Charge

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released detailed breakdowns of the 84,524 charges of workplace discrimination that the agency received in fiscal year 2017. And once again,...

Unemployment Benefits Available for Workers Affected by Southern California Wildfires and Mudslides

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available for workers, business owners and self-employed individuals who lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

New Law Restricts Immigration Enforcement at Worksites

As of January 1, California employers must comply with strict rules passed under the new Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450), which protects workers...

Californians Can Legally Buy Weed But Employers Can Still Keep a Drug-Free Workplace

Last week, California businesses began to legally sell recreational marijuana in California. More than 400 state licenses have been issued so far, but the rollout...

National Origin Protections in California May Change in 2018

National origin protection rules may change in California this year. As previously reported, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Council has proposed amendments to the state...

IRS Extends Employer Deadline for ACA Reporting Forms

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that it is extending the due date for certain 2017 Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting forms to be provided...

New Mandatory Poster on Transgender Rights for California Workplaces

California passed a new law (SB 396) that requires all California employers to post a “Transgender Rights in the Workplace” poster starting January 1, 2018. The new...

New 2018 Exempt Classification Rates

California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) announced rate changes for the computer software employee exemption and the licensed physician and surgeon exemption. The new rates take...

Payroll Tax Deduction Rates Will Rise in 2018

For 2018, the Social Security Administration announced that the Social Security taxable wage base will rise by $1,500 — from $127,200 to $128,700 maximum...

Unemployment Assistance Benefits Available for Workers Affected by Wildfires

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available for workers and self-employed individuals who lost jobs or had work hours substantially reduced as...

What Employers Should Know About Emergencies and the Workplace

In light of various emergencies and disasters throughout the state, the California Chamber of Commerce is educating employers about a few things they should...