Home | HRCalifornia | Store

Labor and Employment

Overview

California has a reputation of being an unfriendly business state with too many burdensome regulations and laws. In order to change this reputation and encourage businesses not only to locate here, but also to stay and expand here, California must reform its regulatory and legal environment to prevent any further impediment to economic growth. One area in which California can initiate this reform is in the labor and employment arena. Four employment-related issues that are plaguing California businesses and must be reformed in order to encourage growth in the private sector are: meal periods, alternative workweek schedules, use of independent contractors and the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA). Labor and Employment Reform

Related Business Issues: National Labor Relations Board

Goal

Protect employers’ rights to organize, direct and manage their companies’ employees in an efficient, safe and productive manner.

Major Victories:

Stopped costly workplace mandates, such as an automatic minimum wage increase (AB 10); changes increasing workers’ compensation costs (AB 375, AB 1155); protected classification for employees who use medical marijuana (SB 129); and elimination of secret ballot elections for agricultural workers (SB 104).
Prevented expansion of employer liability by proposals to add more reasons for
taking family and medical leave (AB 59); mandate paid sick leave (AB 400); and elevate bereavement leave to the same level as the right to be free from racial or gender discrimination (AB 325).
Blocked new barriers to economic development, such as a requirement for certain contractors to retain the employees of a former contractor (AB 350); a proposal requiring tax credits to sunset (SB 508); a “split roll” property tax (AB 448); and a multitude of hidden and specific tax hike proposals (AB 832, AB 1130, AB 1239, SB 237, SB 535, SB 653, SBX1 23).

Issue Summaries

Immigration
Position: There should be one national program implementing immigration policy that pre-empts all state and local programs, and reform legislation should be comprehensive and adequately funded. Immigration

Related Top Stories & Videos

11/30/2011	-	CalChamber Releases New Video On Controversial Poster Requirement
08/25/2011	-	Allan Zaremberg Discusses Job Killers on KTTV in Los Angeles
08/23/2011	-	Senate Fiscal Committee Passes Job Killer Mandate
07/21/2011	-	Bill Forces Businesses to Subsidize Workers' Commutes
06/22/2011	-	CalChamber Opposes New Liability for Using Independent Contractors
05/31/2011	-	KFBK on CalChamber's Job Killer list
05/31/2011	-	Allan Zaremberg on KFMB
05/26/2011	-	Job Killer Bills on KMJ Fresno
05/25/2011	-	CalChamber Vice President Urges Businesses to Help Stop 'Job Killers'
05/12/2011	-	CalChamber Highlights Need for Flexibility in Setting Alternative Workweek Schedules
05/11/2011	-	CalChamber Supports Flexibility in Setting Alternative Workweeks
05/11/2011	-	Marijuana Bill Very Similar to Voter-Rejected Prop. 19
04/14/2011	-	Inc. Magazine Taking Applications for Fastest-Growing Companies List
04/11/2011	-	CalChamber to Offer Webinar on Classifying Exempt Employees
04/04/2011	-	Jennifer Barrera on SB 883
04/04/2011	-	CalChamber-Supported Bill Helps Provide Certainty for California Employers
03/31/2011	-	CalChamber Highlights Difficulties Marijuana Bill Creates for Employers
03/30/2011	-	OSHA Seeks Employer Input on Adding 'Ergonomics' Column to Injury/Illness Logs
03/29/2011	-	SB 129 Marijuana Bill Hearing
03/29/2011	-	U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Comments on Improving Regulatory Processes
03/24/2011	-	Bill Banning Use of Credit Reports for Employment Passes Assembly Committee
03/22/2011	-	CalChamber Testifies Against AB 22
03/21/2011	-	Heat Illness Prevention Network Seeks Data Updates
03/15/2011	-	State ‘Card Check’ for Farm Workers Wins Approval from First Committee
03/07/2011	-	Governor Names New State Labor Commissioner
03/03/2011	-	California Supreme Court Denies Review of Working Conditions Case
02/23/2011	-	Failure to Provide Meal and Rest Period Equals Two Violations
02/14/2011	-	Coalition Says Notice Rule Exceeds Agency’s Authority
02/11/2011	-	CalChamber Announces Opposition to Medical Marijuana Bill
02/09/2011	-	CalChamber Urges State Supreme Court to Review Working Conditions Case
01/31/2011	-	Bill Proposes Expansion of Family Leave Circumstances
01/24/2011	-	OSHA Withdraws Controversial Interpretation of ‘Feasible’ Noise Controls
09/22/2010	-	Proposition 19 Informational Hearing
09/13/2010	-	Job Killer Call to Action
08/18/2010	-	Amendments to 'Job Killer' Bill Undermine Secret-Ballot Union Elections
08/12/2010	-	Proposition 19 Press Conference
05/06/2010	-	CalChamber Urges Support to Ensure Funding for Employee Training
04/20/2010	-	Senate Policy Committee Rejects Flexible Scheduling Bill
04/16/2010	-	Kyla Christoffersen Discusses SB 1474
04/15/2010	-	Business Community Testimony Highlights Need for Flexible Scheduling
04/14/2010	-	Brian Hawley, Chairman and CFO of Luminex Software Inc. Voices Support of Flexible Workweek Bill
04/14/2010	-	SureWest Communications Executive Director Greg Gierczak Gives His Support of SB 1335
04/14/2010	-	Senators Testify in Support of SB1335 - Flexible Work Schedules
04/14/2010	-	CalChamber-Sponsored Flexible Work Schedule Bill Up for Hearing Today
04/13/2010	-	CalChamber comments on AB 1771
11/16/2009	-	Social Networking at Work
07/29/2009	-	CalChamber Opposes Flawed ‘Card Check’ Proposal
07/16/2009	-	CalChamber Urges Businesses to Prepare for Warm Weather
07/02/2009	-	Governor Vetoes CalChamber Opposed Internet Taxation Proposal
07/01/2009	-	Cal/OSHA to Turn Attention to Shade Rules