July 2, 2009
from J. Kevin Pedrotti, Legislative Advocate for the Golden State Builders Exchanges
IOU’s are being issued to state vendors and local governments as of today and over 200,000 state workers are being furloughed an additional day (total of three) per month because the legislature and Governor could not reach a budget solution on the mounting $26 billion deficit.
from Ted Ted Schwartz, Safety/Training Manager, HR IDEAS, INC.
After a very lengthy hearing of testimony, most of it critical, the Cal OSHA Standards Board yesterday decided not to even entertain a motion to adopt emergency changes sought by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to the state's heat illness standard.
By David Kalb, President of Capitol Services, Inc.
While the 3% goal for including certified disabled-veteran owned companies (DVBE) remains in place, goals for other ‘disadvantaged’ businesses providing goods and services in California have changed. Remember Proposition 209? We also open a ‘vent’ to let some fresh air in on unlicensed activity being promoted online.
from Safety News, State Compensation Insurance Fund
From the ALERT Newsletter, June 12, California Chamber of Commerce
Recent I-9 Form changes mean all employers are required to verify that every new hire is either a U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the United States. Changes have occurred in the I-9 form and acceptable documents that establish both the employee's identity and employment eligibility. Employers need to be aware of these changes and adjust hiring practices to conform to these new requirements.
Am I required to have all of my employees complete the new I-9?
From ALERT Newsletter, June 12, 2009, California Chamber of Commerce
“The expenditure of vast sums of public money to meet the demands of our social problems cannot be continued indefinitely unless a sound fiscal policy is adopted to balance budgets.”
These words of warning were spoken by the State Controller - not this year, but in 1934 in the depths of the Great Depression. Our state’s economy has not collapsed to that extent, but our budget policy may be in even worse disarray.
Last month, the California Department of Industrial Relations through its Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) issued a “Public Works Manual”.
While lenthy at 115 pages, it should provide a valuable resource for questions concerning bidding public works projects.
Included is a section on “Prevailing Wages”, and also included are answers to the most common questions on payroll and record keeping.