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News Notes: Reminder To Post Cal_OSHA 300A Log

From February 1 through April 30, 2004, most public and private employers are required to post the Cal-OSHA Form 300A annual summary log of injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2003. You must display the summary in a conspicuous place where you normally post notices to employees. During the posting period, you’re responsible for making […]

Congress Moving on Federal Minimum Wage Hike

We recently reported that the U.S. House of Representatives had approved a bill to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 over a period of 26 months. Now, the Senate has approved similar legislation, which, unlike the House measure, would provide tax breaks to small businesses to offset the economic impact of paying a higher […]

Workers’ Comp: Another Rate Cut on the Way

California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has announced he will likely recommend a further workers’ compensation insurance pure premium rate cut of at least 6.3 percent—which would bring the cumulative rate decreases to 58 percent since workers’ comp reform measures were implemented back in 2003.

News Notes: New OSHA Web Site Encourages Worker Complaints

Employees can now use the Internet to file health and safety complaints, thanks to a new Fed/OSHA Web site focusing on workers’ rights. The new electronic complaint filing system, which makes it easier for employees to air their grievances, could bring a flood of new workplace investigations since the agency says that it will forward […]

News Notes: High Court Issues New Travel Time Ruling

The California Supreme Court recently ruled that an agricultural employer has to compensate farm workers for their travel time to and from work. The workers were required to report to a company parking lot each morning to take their employer’s buses to their worksite. The court noted that employers may provide free transportation to employees without […]

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Health Care Reform in 2012

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear a challenge to the massive health care reform law (also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA) enacted in March 2010. The Court revealed how important it considers this case by scheduling five and a half hours of oral […]

News Bulletin: Employment-Related Cases Before State High Court

Cases coming before justices during the 2004-2005 term that could affect your workplace include Smith v. City of Jackson, which raises the question of whether the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act recognizes disparate impact age bias claims, as opposed to claims of intentional age bias; and Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Banks, which questions […]

News Notes: Workers’ Compensation Hike On The Way

The state Insurance Commissioner has recommended a 10.5% increase in the pure premium rates for workers’ compensation insurance as of Jan. 1, 2003. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau had requested a 13.4% increase, but the commissioner questioned some of the bureau’s future cost estimates.