FEB 2016 – An Overview of new 2016 Laws Affecting California Employers

An Overview of new 2016 Laws Affecting California Employers4  law books

By: CalChamber Employment Counsel

California enacted many new laws that will affect the day-to-day operations of California businesses in 2016.

Some of the new laws make important changes to existing state law. Other new laws make small changes to different parts of existing law or may only affect certain types of employers, such as employers with piece-rate workers.

Don’t forget that minimum wage increased on January 1, 2016 to $10 per hour – this is not a new law but this is the last mandatory increase from the law signed in 2013.

Mandatory paid Sick Leave Amendments

Last year the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act was signed into law and required employers to begin providing the mandatory paid sick leave (PSL) benefit beginning July 1, 2015. After the law was already in effect the Legislature passed AB304 which made several substantial amendments to the law.

  • Among other things the amendments:
  • Clarify who is a covered worker
  • Provide alternative accrual methods other than one hour for every 30 hours worked
  • Clarify protections for employers that already provide PSL or paid time off before January 1, 2015 (a grandfather clause)
  • Provide alternative methods for paying who use PSL

For more details on this law, read CAlChamber’s white paper The Who What When and How of Mandatory Paid sick Leave in Californian: New Amendments Effective July 13, 2015

Gender Wage Equality

SB 358 (Fair Pay Act) revises Labor Code Section 1197.5, which deals with gender pay inequality or disparity. Under existing California law, employers cannot pay an employee less than the rate paid to an opposite-sex employee in the same establishment for equal work on jobs that require equal skill, effort and responsibility, and could face a lawsuit for such disparity.

The Fair Pay revises and expands this prohibition. It eliminates the requirement that the pay difference be “within the same establishment” and eliminates the use of the terms “equal work” for “equal skill, effort and responsibility”.

Instead SB 358 prohibits an employer from paying any of its employees less than employees of the opposite sex for “substantially similar work, when viewed as a composite of skill, effort and responsibility”. In addition, this legislation places specific requirements on employers to affirmatievely show that any wage differential is not unlawful but instead based entirely and reasonably upon one or more of the acceptable listed factors, including seniority and merit systems or other bona fide factors coupled with a showing of “business necessity,” as defined.

 

 

FEB 2016 – Member Profile – Law Offices of Mirau, Edwards, Cannon, Lewin & Tooke

#2 Scales Picture

The Law Offices of Mirau, Edwards, Cannon, Lewin & Tooke a professional corportation

Mirau, Edwards, Cannon, Lewin & Tooke (“MECLT”) is a firm of five attorneys each focused on a specialized area of law including; Real Estate Law, Business Law, Taxation, Trust & Estates, Probate Law and Related Litigation. The Firm has offices in Redlands and Riverside, California.

Each Attorney Focuses on a specific area of law and consequently has a depth of knowledge, understanding and experience in that area not generally found among other attorneys in the Inland Empire.

The attorneys have strong working relationships with each other from years of practicing law together.

 

#2 John Miru PicturesJohn K. Mirau focuses on tax and real estate law. He is certified as a Specialist in Taxation Law by The State Bar of the California Board of Legal Specialization.

John clerked with the District Counsel Division of the Internal Revenue Service in Los Angeles and practiced law at Reid & Hellyer (and its predecessor, Surr & Hellyer) for 17 1/2 years.

John has assisted numerous non-profit organizations in obtaining tax-exempt status, including Inland Harvest, the Redlands Symphony, the Redlands Art Association, the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue Team and the San Bernardino County Museums Foundation.

His tax practice includes representing clients before both Federal (U.S. District Court, U.S.Tax Court, IRS Appeals) and State (Franchise Tax Board, State Board of Equalization) tax authorities, representing tax exempt entities, and tax structuring real estate, corporate and business transactions.

John’s real estate practice includes the negotiation and drafting of complex sale and acquisition documents, including development agreements in connection with land purchased from redevelopment agencies; drafting, formation and implementation of joint ventures, limited partnerships and other real estate investment vehicles; complex title work; and facilitation of 1031 exchanges.

#2 Mark EdwardsMark C. Edwards is an AV Rated Attorney whose practice focuses on Business and Employment law.

Prior to founding Mirau, Edwards, Cannon & Lewin, Mark practiced law at Reid & Hellyer (and its predecessor, Surr & Hellyer) for 11 1/2 years and served as a member of Reid & Hellyer’s Executive Committee.

His practice includes advising clients on employment issues (including avoiding wrongful discharge and harassment liability, and drafting employment policies and manuals), formation of corporations and partnerships, purchases and sales of businesses, commercial transactions (including loan and lease transactions) and negotiation and structuring of major business transactions.

Mark represents a significant number of medical professionals, including physicians and professional corporations. Such representation includes contracting with hospitals, IPAs, insurers and other providers. Mark also represents a number of non-profit corporations and organizations.

#2 Robert CannonRobert W. Cannon has been certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization for more than 15 years (since January 1992). His practice includes the preparation of trusts, wills, family limited partnerships and LLCs, lifetime gifts, trust administration, probate administration and preparation of estate tax returns.

Bob is a former president of the San Bernardino County Bar Association, chair of the Judicial Evaluation and Bench/Bar Committees and former chair of the Probate Section.

 

#2 Michael LewinMichael J. Lewin is one of the founding members of the firm and prior to the formation of the firm practiced law at Reid & Hellyer for 3 1/2 years.

Michael focuses primarily on real estate law and has extensive experience in the acquisition and sale of real property, including tax deferred (1031) exchanges and obtaining entitlements for the development of property. His practice further includes forming and representing limited liability companies and partnerships for investment in and holding real property, drafting and negotiating complex commercial leases, documentation of commercial loans and loan workouts or restructuring, preparation of CC&R’s, easements and other documents relating to rights and restrictions on the use of real property.

 

#2 William TookeWilliam P. Tooke’s practice emphasizes complex business litigation and business-related disputes, including business dissolution, breach of contract and business torts, such as fraud, unfair competition and interference with contract. Bill’s practice areas include real estate, landlord-tenant law, land use, commercial law, insurance, trade secrets and employment law. Prior to joining the firm, Bill was a partner at Mundell, Odlum & Haws, LLP in San Bernardino, California. Bill practices regularly in state and federal courts, and he has extensive experience in both trial and appellate work.

Call 909 793-0200 or log onto, www.mechlaw.com

 

FEB 2016 – Member Profile – Inland Presort and Mailing Service

#3 Inland PresortInland Presort your one stop professional mailing services

 Inland Presort & Mailing Services has been serving the Inland Empire area since 1996. It provides bar-coding and presorting services to local businesses and government agencies for postage discount. The company prides itself on integrity, security and expedient delivery. It meets “same day processing and delivery to USPS” standard requirements by customers daily.

Built on customer service throughout the company every customer, big or small, is treated with the same respect, and professionalism.

The company’s primary function is picking up First Class mail, barcoding and sorting then delivering the United States Post Office all in the same day. All postal pieces with message contact can be classified as mail, including letter, postcards, flats, packages, priority mail and express mail. They can be classified as First Class, Standard and Non-Profit class mail.

Working with the latest, state of the art, equipment the experienced team at Inland Presort strives to provide the very best of service for all their clients. Along with pre-sort, they provide inkjet addressing, folding, inserting, tabbing, labeling, collating and metering services.

For more information about Inland Presort & Mailing Services or to see who they might help you with your mailing requirements call 909 307-1300 or log onto, www.inlandpresort.com.

 

 

FEB 2016 – New Chamber Members – January 2016

AMERICAN LEAK DETECTION
Carl Daniels II
888 Research Drive, Suite 100
Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: 760-320-8273

FIFTEEN LOUNGE & TAPAS
Ramon Rodriguez
15 E. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 649-1603

FLEETSTAR AUTO BROKERS
Sam Newaz
114 E. Airport Drive, Unit 102
San Bernardino, CA 92407
Phone: 424-270-4101

FOX DANCE STUDIO
Raquel Urquizu
330 Alabama Street, Suite H
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 335-5959

GRID ALTERNATIVES
Kate Thibault
1660 Chicago Avenue #M21
Riverside, CA 92507
Phone: 951-471-7027

LOMA LINDA SPRINGS APTS.
Christine Stutts
11171 Oakwood Drive
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: 796-1050

MIRACLE EAR
Deborah Mullins
1408 Industrial Park Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 247-1120

RESIDENCE INN SAN BERNARDINO
Lesley Stevens
1040 E. Harriman Place
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 382-4564

SUBWAY #65296
Ajay Gandhi
1256 Orange Street, Suite C
(Corner of Lugonia & Orange)
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 792-7215

 

FEB 2016 – Chamber Members Renewing – January 2016

ASSOCIATES OF THE REDLANDS BOWL
Suzi Sternberg
P. O. Box 492
Redlands, CA 92373

AYRES HOTEL REDLANDS
Marissa Harding
1015 W. Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 335-9024

BORTON PETRINI, LLP
Joe Richardson
1461 Ford Street, Suite 201
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 381-0527

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Ricci Dula
1230 Indiana Court
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-2463

BROWN, WHITE & OSBORN, LLP
Jack Osborn
300 E. State Street, Suite 668
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 798-6179

DAN CARLONE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Dan Carlone
234 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Phone: 386-1828

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON SAN BERNARDINO
Jorge Azpetia
285 E. Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 388-7913

EUREKA BURGER
Shelby Malinowski
345 Pearl Avenue, Suite 130
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 335-5700

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Lowell Linden
2 West Olive
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-3157

GOODWIN INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
Glenn Goodwin
1806 Orange Tree Lane, Suite A
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-8118

HAMPTON INN & SUITES-HIGHLAND
Tasha Howe
27959 Highland Avenue
Highland, CA 92346
Phone: 862-8000

INLAND SURGERY CENTER
Jacquelin Belcher
1620 Laurel Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-4701

JANET FLETCHER
Janet Fletcher
1910 Country Club Lane
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-3687

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
Aaron Wood
301 W. Redlands Blvd
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-2100

LAW OFFICES OF JEFFREY S. RAYNES
Mitchell Raynes
300 E. State Street, Suite 690
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-6800

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
Shaina Shieh
11215 Mountain View, Suite 165
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: 558-3453

MAIDS 2000
Chanel Eren
80 Alabama Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-1493

NORMAN D. MATHIS, DDS
Dr. Norman Mathis
508 Cajon Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-2024

NORTON AFB MUSEUM
Bob Edwards
1601 E. 3rd Street
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 382-7307

PLYMOUTH VILLAGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Kevin Kasin
900 Salem Drive
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-1233

REDLANDS ADVENTIST ACADEMY
Luisa DeSia
130 Tennessee
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-1000 ext. 118

REDLANDS ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Dr. Hanson Dusenberry
1093 W. Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-2181

REDLANDS SEWING CENTER, INC.
Trenna Anderson
422 E. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-3994

STOW-A-WAY SELF STORAGE
Brendan Barker
1519 W. Lugonia Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-7807

THE OLD SPAGHETTI FACTORY
Steven Leal
1635 Industrial Park Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 798-7774

UCR GROUP
Shannon Gairson
1177 Idaho, Suite 200
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 818-299-2594

ULTIMATE CARPET CARE
Christina & Ramez Kiriakos
700 E. Redlands Blvd, Suite U337
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 633-9988