Author, Emily Marasso, Media Communications Assistant, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. hosted a 2020 Legal Updates workshop on December 2, 2019 at the Boys & Girls Club of East County.
Thomas E. Daugherty, a lawyer with Klinedinst Attorneys, led the workshop and discussed the employment law changes that will go into effect in 2020 and how you can be prepared.
Some of the key elements discussed in the workshop are:
Independent contractors must meet all 3 elements of the ABC Test to be classified as such and not an employee.
Mandatory arbitration agreements are no longer acceptable.
The minimum wage amount is increasing again; affecting salary thresholds.
In addition to these updates, the statute of limitations has increased from 1 to 3 years, and additional time has been given to employers to complete company-wide harassment prevention training. Alongside these changes, discrimination outlines have been extended to include perception against natural hairstyles including afros, braids, twists, locks, etc.
New parents can be thankful that workplace lactation accommodations have been updated and Paid Family Leave is now 8 weeks in lieu of the previous 6 weeks standard beginning July 1, 2020. Domestic partnership now includes any two adults over the age of 18 instead of the previous age of 62. Domestic partners are granted the same rights, protections, benefits, etc. as married spouses.
Construction employees, in certain counties, are required to be trained on Valley Fever and the dangers of being exposed to the fungus. The counties included, but not limited to, are Fresno, Kern, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura to name a few. Gun violence restraining orders now expand availability to employers, co-workers (with employer approval) and employees or teachers at a secondary school.
For clients who missed the workshop, a video of the presentation will be available to view on-demand in the Risk Management Center within the next few weeks. An update will be sent when it is ready to view.