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EMPLOYERS' HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

Employers planning end-of-the-year holiday parties should maintain sensible guidelines to carry off a safe and successful gathering. Management must ensure the event acknowledges production and promotes morale without becoming a fertile ground for harassment incidents or worse.

FAIR WARNING

The California Fair Chance Act (theAct) seeks to enable job applicants with criminal histories to obtain gainful employment. Under the Act, employers with five or more on payroll cannot obtain criminal background information until after extending a conditional offer of employment. Upon receipt of any criminal conviction information, the employer must engage in the "fair chance process"i.e.,evaluating the applicant's criminal history as well as any mitigating circumstances before rescinding the

WHAT'S NEW IN 2022 THE DOCTOR IS IN

California Labor Code section 515.6exempts certain licensed physicians and surgeons from overtime compensation upon receipt of specified minimum hourly compensation.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2022 CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE RATE INCREASES FOR JANUARY 1, 2022

On January 1, 2022,California minimum wages will increase as mandated bySenate Bill (SB) 3: $15.00/hour for employers with 26 or more; $14.00/hour for those with 25 or fewer employees; SeeCalifornia's Gradual Increases in Minimum Wage, to Reach $15.00 Per Hour by January 1, 2022(April 20, 2016).

NATIONWIDE MANDATORY WORKPLACE VAX RULES ARE ON HOLD

On November 5, 2021, the federalOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)issuedEmergency Temporary Standards (ETS)implementing thePresident's ordered mandatory vaccinate-or-test rules. The ETS directs all employers with 100+ on payroll to require worker vaccination or weekly testing.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

Thanks to the strong support of our clients and colleagues, Bowles Law is Pasadena Weekly's "Best" for 2021, our third year running. We strive to continue delivery of capable services in the often contentious arena of personnel management.

WHAT'S NEW IN 2022 NERD PAY

California Labor Code section 515.5exempts certain computer software professionals from overtime compensation upon receipt of specified minimum compensation.

RELIGION AND MANDATORY WORKPLACE VACCINATION

The federalEqual Employment Opportunity Commission(EEOC) has againexpanded its pandemic guidelines, this time to address the potential conflict between mandatory workplace COVID vaccination policies and employee religious belief and practice.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 47 COVID-19 REQUIRED BENEFITS TAKE TWO

InJuly 2021, the California Labor Commissioner cited Bodega Latina Corporation $447,836 for failure by three of its El Super grocery stores to pay 95 workers COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL). TheCommissionercalled for any other affected El Super employees to come forward.