Are You Ready for 2020 Employment Law Updates?

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.

Workshop Video Library Offers On-Demand Training

Author, Alyssa Burley, Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Leaving the office or job site to attend a workshop can be difficult for some Rancho Mesa clients. So, we've provided two easy ways to access the workshop videos on-demand from the video library within the Risk Management Center or through the Workshop Video Request Form.

To view a workshop video on-demand, login to the Risk Management Center, navigate to the Risk Management Library and locate the Rancho Mesa folder. There, you will find the Workshops & Webinar list. 

To request a video if you don't have access to the Risk Management Center, go to the Workshop page on the RanchoMesa.com website, scroll down to the “Previous Workshops” section. Click on the “Request a Workshop Video” button, complete the form and we’ll send you a link to view the video.

Requesting a video via the RanchoMesa.com website makes it easy for employees who may not have access to the Risk Management Center to watch valuable training videos, or for prospective clients who want to see the types of resources that are available to clients.

Available on-demand workshop videos include:

• Early Return to Work Program
• Employee Benefits: EaseCentral
• Employment Law Update 2018
• Fleet Safety
• Fraud Within the CA Workers’ Compensation System
• Heat Illness Prevention

• Mod Doctor (Landscape)    
• Nonprofit Risk Management
• On-Site Health & Safety
• OSHA Reporting Series: Generating the 300A Electronic Report
• Risk Management Center Overview

Contact Alyssa Burley at (619) 438-6869 for questions about the Risk Management Center, workshops, webinars or on-demand videos.