2017 is just around the corner! Some interesting changes are ahead for businesses in California. In an article this week published by Gary Quackenbush in The North Bay Business Journal, they ask if we are ready?
The list is comprehensive. Communication about these issues may come from your legal team, your HR department, or possibly from your employees directly. Stay informed, alert and proactive. Give yourself a few minutes to read this article and save time, money and angst amidst the transitions.
“California Chamber of Commerce’s legal team, and other law firms identified 40 key employment-related laws enacted by the state of California that may affect day-to-day business operations in 2017 and beyond.
Here are some recent examples:
U.S. District Court Judge Mazzant recently blocked the new federal overtime rule that was to take effect Dec. 1 (see WAGE AND HOUR LAW section below).
The IRS is extending the employer deadline for certain Affordable Care Act forms to be provided to employees. The Form 1095-B (Health Coverage) and Form 1095-C (Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage to employees) deadline is now March 2, 2017 — extended from Jan. 31, 2017. However, the deadline for employers to file the 2016 Form 1094-B and Form 1095-B with the IRS was not extended and must be filed by mail Feb. 28, 2017, or by March 31, 2017, if filing electronically (required for employers who have submitted 250 or more forms), according to Gail Cecchettini Whaley, CalChamber Law Counsel/Content.
The IRS is also reminding employers of the new Jan. 31 (not Feb. 28) filing deadline for Forms W-2 which also applies to certain Forms 1099-MISC reporting non-employee compensation payments to independent contractors, and changes in rules regarding extensions to file Form W-2.
The U.S. Immigration Agency has published a new Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) that must be used by Jan. 22, 2017.
Unless otherwise stated, all new legislation goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Here are some noteworthy new laws from the California Legislature:
Several new California laws will affect employers’ wage-and-hour obligations in 2017. In addition to California laws, a new federal overtime rule was scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1, 2016. However, a U.S. District Court judge issued a nationwide injunction against the Department of Labor (DOL) on Nov. 22 blocking its final overtime rule, which would have more than doubled the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) salary test for executive, administrative and professional employees – meaning white-collar employees earning below the new $913 weekly threshold would have been entitled to overtime.
Looking at the language of the FLSA, the court found that statutory “white-collar exemptions” apply to employees performing actual executive, administrative and professional duties. Thus, Congress intended the exemption to depend on an employee’s duties rather than their salary. The court held that the DOL exceeded its delegated authority and “ignored Congress’s intent by raising the minimum salary level such that it supplants the duties test,” according to Partner Jeffrey D. Polsky and Associate Melissa Shinto with Fox Rothschild LLP.
MINIMUM WAGE
SB 3 increases the minimum wage over the next several years to $15 an hour. On Jan. 1, 2017, businesses with 26 or more employees must pay a minimum wage of $10.50 per hour. Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees are not required to begin to implement this increase until 2018. The legislation allows for future minimum wage increases based on the Consumer Price Index.
In addition to phased-in overtime, AB 1066 eliminates an important existing exemption for agricultural employers. Currently, agricultural employers are exempt from the Labor Code requirement to provide one day’s rest in seven worked. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, agricultural employers are no longer exempt from this provision and cannot cause employees to work more than six days in seven.
ITEMIZED WAGE STATEMENTS
AB 2535 amends Labor Code Section 226 and clarifies that employees who are exempt from the payment of minimum wage and overtime are not required to have their hours tracked and logged on an itemized wage statement, commonly referred to as a pay stub.
PAYROLL
AB 1847 requires employers who must notify employees of their eligibility for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit to also notify these employees that they may be eligible for the California earned income tax credit. The bill updates the required notice that must be given to employees.
CHALLENGES TO MINIMUM WAGE VIOLATIONS
Under AB 2899, employers who contest a Labor Commissioner ruling that they failed to pay the minimum wage must post a bond equal to the unpaid wages, excluding penalties.
LOCAL WAGE ENFORCEMENT
SB 1342 grants local officials or department heads the power to issue subpoenas and to report noncompliance with employment-related ordinances, such as local minimum wage ordinances, to superior court judges. The legislative intent of this new law further encourages cities and counties to enact measures to combat wage theft.
JANITORIAL WORKERS
AB 1978 enacts new recordkeeping, registration and training requirements for the janitorial industry. The intent is to protect janitorial workers from wage theft and sexual violence or harassment.
The recordkeeping requirements begin Jan. 1, 2017. The requirement for covered janitorial employers to register annually with the Labor Commissioner begins July 1, 2018.
OVERTIME FOR PRIVATE ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
Currently, private school teachers in California must earn two times the state minimum wage to be exempt from overtime and must meet all other requirements for the exemption. Under AB 2230, private school employees will need to meet a new minimum earnings test that will look at the comparable salaries offered to public school teachers in the school district or county, rather than the state minimum wage. This legislation is effective July 1, 2017.
LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR HAIR SALONS/NAIL SALONS
AB 2437 requires any establishment that is licensed by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology (BBC) (hair salons, nail salons, estheticians, etc.) to post a notice regarding workplace rights and wage-and-hour laws by July 1, 2017. The state labor commissioner must create the model notice. Failure to post the notice will result in a fine.
DOMESTIC WORKERS
SB 1015 extends the Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, which was to be repealed on Jan. 1, 2017.
TEMPORARY SERVICES; WAGES
Under the Labor Code, employees of a temporary service employer must be paid weekly, regardless of when the assignment ends.
DISCRIMINATION & RETALIATION PROTECTIONS
Several new laws expand employee protections in 2017.
EXPANSION OF CALIFORNIA’S FAIR PAY ACT
Two bills expand California’s Fair Pay Act.
SB 1063 prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees wage rates that are less than the rates paid to employees of another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work.
AB 1676 specifies that, under the Fair Pay Act, prior salary cannot, by itself, justify any disparity in compensation. The law is intended to “help ensure that both employers and workers are able to negotiate and set salaries based on the requirements, expectations, and qualifications of the person and the job in question, rather than on an individual’s prior earnings, which may reflect widespread, long-standing, gender-based wage disparities in the labor market.
HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING
AB 1661 requires local government agency officials, including local elected officials, to receive sexual harassment prevention training and education whenever those officials receive any type of compensation, salary or stipend. The requirements for this training differ from requirements under AB 1825 training.
ALL-GENDER RESTROOMS
AB 1732 sets a new requirement beginning March 1, 2017, that all single-user toilet facilities in any business establishment, place of public accommodation or government agency be identified as “all-gender” toilet facilities.
IMMIGRATION-RELATED PROTECTIONS
Employers are required by federal law to verify an employee’s eligibility to work using the Form I-9 process. A new I-9 Form must be used by Jan. 22, 2017. Under federal law, it is unlawful for employers to ask for more or different documentation than is required by the Form I-9, refuse to accept documents that appear genuine on their face or engage in other types of document abuse. SB 1001 makes this type of conduct unlawful under state law as well. Violators may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000.
DEFINITION OF EMPLOYEE
AB 488 revises the definition of “employee” under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act to authorize an individual employed under a special license in a nonprofit sheltered workshop, day program or rehabilitation facility to bring an action under the act for any form of prohibited harassment or discrimination.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AB 1684 authorizes the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) to receive, investigate and prosecute complaints from victims of human trafficking. The DFEH can bring civil actions on behalf of these victims.
STATE CONTRACTS AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION CERTIFICATION
AB 2844 requires those who bid, propose or renew a contract of $100,000 or more with a state agency to certify their compliance with the Unruh Civil Rights Act and FEHA.
DISCRIMINATION REGULATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
SB 1442 consolidates various anti-discrimination regulations and enforcement and investigatory powers under the jurisdiction of the DFEH. It removes other state agencies’ authority to issue regulations prohibiting discrimination.
LEAVES OF ABSENCE AND BENEFITS
PAID FAMILY LEAVE BENEFITS
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, AB 908 increases the amount of Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits an employee can receive from 55 percent of earnings to either 60 percent or 70 percent of earnings, depending on the employee’s income. There still will be a maximum weekly benefit on the amount received. The new law also will remove the current seven-day waiting period that exists before an employee is eligible to receive PFL.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND STALKING PROTECTIONS
AB 2337 requires employers with 25 or more employees to provide employees with written notice about the rights of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to take protected time off for medical treatment or legal proceedings.
A required form must be given to all new employees when hired and to current employees upon request.
The Labor Commissioner is required to develop the form on or before July 1, 2017. Employers are not required to comply with this notice requirement until the Labor Commissioner posts the new form on its website.
PRIVATE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS
SB 1234 approves the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program (SCRSP), which is a state-run retirement plan for private-sector workers. Specific prerequisites must be met before the SCRSP can be implemented, and it may be some time before this program up and running.
Under SB 1234, employers with five or more employees that do not offer specified retirement plans must put a payroll arrangement into place so that employees may contribute a portion of their salary or wages to a retirement saving program in the SCRSP.
PAID SICK LEAVE
SB 3 extends California’s paid sick leave law to cover in-home supportive services workers beginning July 1, 2018. The amendments also set forth a specific amount of paid sick leave that must be provided to these workers, which is different from the amount provided to other California employees.
AB 2393 provides specific rules relating to the interaction of sick leave and parental leave for school district employees working in positions requiring certification qualifications.
DISABILITY BENEFITS
AB 2886 extends the appeal time for disability benefits from 20 to 30 days, effective March 1, 2018.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Two new laws affect how background checks are conducted.
JUVENILE CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION
AB 1843 prohibits employers from inquiring into an applicant’s juvenile convictions or using such convictions as a factor in determining any condition of employment.
For health care facilities, AB 1843 allows employers to inquire into juvenile adjudications for felony or misdemeanor sexual offenses or drug possessions within the prior five years.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK (RIDE SHARING SERVICES)
AB 1289 requires a “transportation network company” (such as Uber and Lyft) to conduct local and national criminal background checks for each participating driver and prohibits the use of drivers with certain types of convictions.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
Several new laws affect workplace safety, including a package of bills that took effect June 9, 2016.
INDOOR HEAT ILLNESS
SB 1167 requires Cal/OSHA to propose a heat-illness and injury prevention standard for indoor workers by Jan. 1, 2019. SB 1167 does not specify what provisions will be included in the new rule or what types of workplaces will be covered — potentially, the new rule could include all indoor workplaces.
DRIVING
AB 1785 reaffirms the general ban on using wireless electronic devices while driving, but amends existing law to authorize drivers to use their hand to activate or deactivate a feature or function of the device with a single swipe or tap, as long as the device is mounted so as not to hinder the driver’s view of the road.
SMOKING
Four bills (SB-5, SB-7 and AB-5, AB-7) were signed earlier this year that extend the ban on workplace smoking. These rules took effect June 9, 2016.
It is now illegal to sell or provide tobacco to anyone under age 21 (smoking now includes electronic smoking devices or e-cigarettes). Exempted are active duty personnel age 18 and above with proper military identification.
Also prohibited is smoking in enclosed areas, including covered parking lots, break rooms for employees, gaming clubs, bars and taverns, hotels and motels (except that 20 percent of guestrooms can be designated as smoking rooms). There are no exemptions for employers of any size.
LITIGATION
CHOICE OF FORUM; CHOICE OF LAW
Under SB 1241, an employer cannot require an employee who primarily works and resides in California to agree to: Adjudicate a claim in another state when the claim arises in California (prohibiting choice of forum), or apply another state’s law to a controversy that arises in California (prohibiting choice of law).
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Several bills relating to workers’ compensation were signed into law in 2017.
SB 1160 and AB 2503: Make changes to the utilization review process with respect to injuries occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2018; Require regulations to be adopted to provide employees with notice that they may access medical treatment outside the workers’ compensation system following the denial of their claim; Make changes regarding liens filed after Jan. 1, 2017; and amend the reporting and request for authorization requirements for physicians who attend to ill or injured employees.
AB 1244 requires prompt suspensions of physicians, practitioners or providers from participating in the workers’ compensation system if convicted of fraud or abuses of the Medi-Cal or Medicare programs or the workers’ compensation system.
AB 2883 clarifies when owners or officers of businesses may be excluded from workers’ compensation laws.
SB 1175 requires providers to submit bills for medical services to the employer within one year of the date of service.
PUBLIC WORKS AND PREVAILING WAGES
Three new bills relate to this area of law. Employers who provide services or construction work on public works projects for the government or public-sector entities must pay the prevailing wage, which is usually significantly higher than the minimum wage. The bills include:
AB 326 requires the release of funds held pending a prevailing wage determination.
AB 1926 relates to the payment of apprentices for pre-employment activities, such as testing or training, and
SB 954 limits the ability for a nonunion contractor to receive a credit for certain payments made against the prevailing wage.”
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–Lynn