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News Notes: Trucker Safety Rules Revised

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued revised rules regulating driving hours and rest periods for professional truckers. The rules, which take effect Jan. 4, 2004, will permit professional truck drivers to drive up to 11 hours during a 14-hour on-duty period, provided the trucker receives a 10-hour off-duty period following the shift. For short-haul […]

State Joins IRS in Tax Breaks for Hurricane Relief Donations

The California Franchise Tax Board has announced state tax benefits for businesses and employees who aid Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by donating the cash value of employee leave time. The program–which mirrors a similar federal IRS program announced last week–allows workers to donate unused sick, vacation, or other personal leave time in exchange for the […]

Ways and Means Okays Bill to Repeal OTC Rules

Employers and plan administrators that find the over-the-counter drug rules put in place by the health care reform law to be onerous may have relief, if the Ways and Means Committee has its way. The committee on May 31 in a 24-9 vote ordered H.R. 5842, the Restoring Access to Medication Act, reported to the […]

Universal Health Care: Will Ballot Measure Pass?

One of the more controversial laws enacted in California last year was S.B. 2, the Health Insurance Act of 2003. The law requires many California businesses to either provide health coverage to part- and full-time employees or pay a fee into a state health coverage fund. The law is scheduled to be phased in beginning […]

Retaliation: High Court Limits Whistleblower Protections for Public Employees

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that when public employees make statements as part of their official duties, those statements are not protected free speech. The case involved Richard Ceballos, a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles County who claimed his supervisors retaliated against him for sending a memo that said an affidavit […]

Flooding: Don’t Build an Ark, But Have a Business Plan

The recent flooding in certain parts of the country due to the remnants of a tropical storm is having a huge financial impact on homes and businesses. Here are some tips on what employers can do before, and after a flood event to protect property and valuable assets. First, remember that floods are a natural […]

Bulletin Item: Confusion About The New Paid Family Leave Law Continues

The EDD has now told us the new law allows an employee who has taken disability pregnancy leave to take six weeks of paid family leave, contrary to our statement in last month’s issue. The law is (seemingly) contradictory in several places. If clarification is provided, we’ll let you know. In the meantime, employers need […]