California governor approves legislation raising paid family leave benefits for employees

[Source: Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo] On April 11, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 908, which will increase workers’ access to State Disability Insurance (“SDI”) and Paid Family Leave (“PFL”) starting in 2018. PFL provides wage replacement benefits for up to six weeks to care for a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, Read More…

Wage hike would cost California taxpayers $3.6B

[Source: Orange County Register] A legislative analysis says raising the minimum wage in California to the highest statewide level in the nation would eventually cost taxpayers an additional $3.6 billion a year in higher pay for government employees. The estimate was released Wednesday as an Assembly committee considers boosting the entry-level wage to $15 an Read More…

California proposes regulations on use of criminal history in employment decisions

[Source: California Chamber of Commerce] The California Fair Employment and Housing Council (FEHC) recently issued proposed regulations related to the use of criminal history information in employment decisions. In part, the proposed amendments recap existing state laws that prohibit employers from utilizing certain criminal background information in hiring, promotion, training, discipline, termination or other employment Read More…

U.S. states where recession is a reality

[Source: Bloomberg Business] Dale Oxley doesn’t need to hear about rising odds of a U.S. recession to dread the future. For the West Virginia homebuilder, the downturn has already arrived. “Everyone is going to have to tighten their belts,” said Oxley, the 48-year-old owner of a Charleston-area construction company. “The next couple of years are Read More…