FELS Newsletter: January 2025

Reports surfaced on Jan. 7 both in mainstream media and on social media of immigration enforcement activity in Kern County, concentrated around the city of Bakersfield. They indicated immi­gration authorities (vari­ously identified as Immigration and Cus­toms Enforce­ment or Border Patrol) were conducting traffic stops, “stop-and-question” activi­ties in convenience stores and big-box store parking lots, and […]

Recent Border Patrol activity in the Central Valley of California has caused concern among agricultural employers and employees. The agency carrying out these enforcement actions publicly stated its aim was to apprehend and detain criminal aliens against whom the agency has pending detention orders. These reports have caused significant disruptions for agricultural employers and for […]

Effective Jan. 1, the Internal Revenue Service increased the mileage rate for reimbursement of employees for busi­ness mileage driven in personal vehi­cles to 70 cents per mile. You can read IRS’ announcement here.

Cal/OSHA Consultation Services will present a webinar with valuable insights and practical guidance regarding employee safety related to bird flu. Learn about bird flu, also known as avian influenza, an illness that infects birds and many other animals, including poultry and dairy cattle. Bird flu can also infect people with a mild sickness or a […]

Editor’s Note: You may review Part 1 of this series, Why are Citations Under this Regulation So Common? in the October 2024 issue of FELS Newsletter and Part 2, The Repercussions of an IIPP Citation, in the November issue. If you have an IIPP citation that is part of a larger citation package, it will […]

Feb. 21; 10 AM: So You Got Cited by Cal/OSHA; Now What? Cal/OSHA has dropped at your doorstep a package of citations featuring accusatory, inflam­matory language and thousands of dollars in proposed penalties. What should you do now? You can register at FELS Webinars.

Jan. 28-29, Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento Con­vention Center. More information here. Visit FELS at booth A2414, and meet FELS’ newest Labor Manage­ment Consultant, Sergio Parra! Feb. 5-7, 44th Annual Agricultural Personnel Management Association Forum, Monterey, Portola Hotel. More information here. FELS Chief Operating Officer Bryan Little will co-present Preventing Workplace Violence: Strategies for […]

Webinar recordings and presentations are available at www.fels.net/webinars at ICYMI: In Case You Missed It. Nov. 15: Protecting Agricultural Em­ployees from H5N1: Steven Fenaroli, California Farm Bureau; William J. Krycia, former Cal/OSHA Ag Enforce­ment Coordinator (retired); Bryan Little, FELS COO; and Eugene Glendenning, Pro­gram Manager, Cal/OSHA Consul­tation, furnished viewers with insights and practical tips on […]