Cal/OSHA is working on new rules that would crack down and step up enforcement and penalties against California employers that commit “egregious” and “enterprise-wide” workplace safety violations. The forthcoming rules would impose substantial penalties on companies that have shown a disregard towards California workplace safety regulations and the wellbeing of their employees. Employers that are […]
Every year starts with a number of new laws and regulations that will affect businesses in California. This year is no different. This is part II of a two-part series. 6. No more non-competes Under two new laws, non-compete agreements with employees are expressly illegal starting in 2024 and if an employer requires one […]
The National Labor Relations Board has issued a final rule that expands the definition of what’s considered a joint-employer relationship and increases employers’ potential liability. Under the rule, two or more entities may be considered joint employers if they share one or more employees and they both can determine the workers’ essential terms and conditions […]
Holiday parties have made a comeback despite, or maybe because of, more people working remotely. Many managers want to bring their teams together under one roof as it’s become apparent that connecting face-to-face is vital to a vibrant and cohesive work atmosphere. But if you are planning on throwing a company holiday party, there are […]
Fleet operators face an increased risk of potential liability if they are not diligent about checking their drivers’ moving violation records with the state Department of Motor Vehicles in addition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. To ensure the safety of our roadways, as of 2020, it became mandatory that […]
While cyber threats grow and the cyber insurance market evolves, insurers are regularly adjusting their policy terms and conditions in response to new threats and exposure. Carriers have amassed nearly a decade’s worth of data and are getting more stringent about underwriting and demanding that policyholders do their share by implementing best practices aimed at […]
Workers’ compensation fraud costs the insurance industry roughly $5 billion each year, according to estimates by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Depending on whom you ask, fraud accounts for as much as 10% of the costs of all workers’ comp claims. This type of fraud is typically associated with malingering employees who fake injuries in […]
Skyrocketing claims costs and higher accident rates are pressuring the commercial auto insurance market, as insurers impose increasingly larger rate hikes and more are pulling out of the market or restricting who they will cover. While rate increases have been the standard for nearly a decade, since 2022 hikes are growing larger — often in […]
Cal/OSHA has proposed its long-awaited indoor heat illness prevention standard as increasingly hot summers are affecting workers in indoor spaces like warehouses, production operations, restaurants and more. The proposed standard, largely based on the state agency’s outdoor regulations, will require employers whose workplaces at times are at least 82 degrees to have a written Indoor […]
There is a growing threat to companies that use online services to administer their employee benefits and payroll as cyber criminals increasingly exploit these cloud service platforms. The results of a hacker gaining access to the company’s payroll systems, sloshing with cash, as well as employees’ personally identifiable information can be devastating both to the […]