California has expanded discrimination protections in two important new ways that will become effective on January 1. SB 1100 (Portantino, D-La Canada-Flintridge) makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer “to include a statement in a job advertisement, posting, application, or other material that an applicant must have a driver’s license” unless the employer […]
FELS Newsletter: November 2024
Appellate Court Rules for UFW, ALRB in Wonderful Case
The California 5th District Court of Appeal has lifted an injunction imposed on the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) preventing administrative action to enforce its order to Wonderful Nurseries to enter into collective bargaining negotiations. Wonderful had argued it would suffer irreparable harm if forced into a collective bargaining agreement while it continues to pursue […]
FIRA Woodland Hosts Cal/OSHA Standards Board, Staff Tour of Autonomous Ag Machines
On October 24, members of the Cal/OSHA Standards Board and staff of the Board and it’s sister agency Cal/OSHA witnessed demonstrations of autonomous machinery including autonomous weeders, air blast sprayers, and tractors at the FIRA/Global Organization for Agricultural Robots (GOFAR) show at the Yolo County Fairgrounds in Woodland. The Standards Board has considered and rejected […]
UPDATE: ALRB Declines to Sublet CAUSE Santa Maria Office Space
After concerns raised by a number of agricultural employer organizations, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) reversed its decision to sublet space for an office in Santa Maria from the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE). The appearance of partiality on the part of an adjudicatory body like the ALRB was particularly concerning. […]
The Injury and Illness Prevention Plan Regulation Crisis, Part 2: The Repercussions of an IIPP Citation
So, you have an IIPP citation from Cal/OSHA. Now what? Many times, an IIPP citation is issued with a negligible proposed penalty of less than $1,000.00. As such, it is easy for an Employer to look at this citation and decide to just pay the penalty and move on. In fact, Cal/OSHA will often encourage an Employer to just […]
Don’t Want an EEOC Pregnancy Lawsuit? Then DON’T Do These 4 Things
Stuff’s getting real. As many of you know, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is starting to sue employers who it claims are not complying with the reasonable accommodation requirements of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The regulations issued by the EEOC are pretty draconian, even if you (like me) believe that employers should make […]
The Pregnant Workers Fairness: What California Employers Need to Know
In 2023, the U.S. Congress passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (“PWFA”) and, in June 2024, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (“EEOC’s”) regulations interpreting the PWFA took effect. In general, the PWFA requires employers with at least 15 employees to accommodate an employee or applicant’s known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of […]
FELS Tailgate Safety Training Sheet
Avian Influenza Safety for Ag Employees
