In a first-of-its-kind criminal conviction in California, a San Diego restaurant owner has been sentenced to two years in jail for promising wages to immigrant workers but paying them only in tips. San Diego County Superior Court also ordered the employer to repay $20,000 in stolen wages and tips to six of the restaurant workers. California Labor Commissioner Julie A.
Starting January 1, 2017. The Notice also provides the 2017 maximum standard automobile cost that may be used to compute the allowance under a fixed and variable rate (FAVR) plan. Specifically, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car, van, pickup or panel truck will be: 53.5 cents per mile for business miles driven (down from 54 cents
Effective January 1, 2017, Cal/OSHA will be utilizing a broader definition of “Repeat” violation under California’s Health and Safety Code. This is significant for California employers because if Cal/OSHA finds a Repeat violation, the employer could initially be subject to a penalty of up to $70,000, and up to $124,709 or more when Cal/OSHA updates its penalties as required by
National research indicates that health care workers are at a substantially higher risk of workplace violence than the average worker in another industry. According to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), from 2002 to 2013, the rate of serious workplace violence incidents (those requiring days off for an injured worker to recuperate) was more than four times greater
For several years, California employers have been required to notify employees regarding the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Beginning January 1, 2017, new California law (AB 1847) requires those same employers to also notify employees that they may be eligible for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”). The new law states that an employer must notify all employees that
The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the nation’s tax season will begin Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 and reminded taxpayers claiming certain tax credits to expect a longer wait for refunds. The IRS will begin accepting electronic tax returns that day, with more than 153 million individual tax returns expected to be filed in 2017. The IRS again expects more
The Los Angeles City Council has overwhelmingly approved a “ban the box” ordinance prohibiting any employer in the city with 10 or more employees from asking about a prospective employee’s criminal history until a conditional employment offer has been made. The ordinance also would apply to city contractors and employment agencies. While the measure still requires the signature of Mayor