We invite you to peruse our archived News items.
Latest News
- Bay Area Employers: Shelter in Place Order Extended
(posted: Apr, 2020)SIP extended through May 31st. The SF Bay Area will continue to shelter in place through the end of May, even as other parts of the U.S. begin to reopen.
Latest Blog
- Bay Area Counties Issue New Order, SIP thru May
(posted: Apr, 2020)
The 6 counties are extending SIP through the end of May, but are also easing restrictions in a few key areas like construction.
News from 2020 | |
Bay Area Employers: Shelter in Place Order Extended(posted: Apr, 2020) SIP extended through May 31st. The SF Bay Area will continue to shelter in place through the end of May, even as other parts of the U.S. begin to reopen. |
Bay Area Employers: Shelter in Place Order(posted: Mar, 2020) As of Midnight March 16, 2020, all residents of 6 Bay Area counties are ordered to shelter in place, with exceptions for "essential" services. The affected counties are Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. |
DOL Answers Questions on FMLA in Public Health Emergencies(posted: Mar, 2020) Answers common questions employers have about the Family & Medical Leave Act in the case of COVID-19 and other public health emergencies. |
Employers Temporarily Avoid AB 51(posted: Jan, 2020) 
New California law AB 51 barring mandatory employment arbitration agreements has been temporarily stopped from going into effect. |
News from 2019 | |
Deadline for CA Anti-Harassment Training Moved(posted: Sep, 2019) 
Good news for California small businesses. The deadline for mandatory anti-harassment training has been moved out to Jan. 1 2021. |
Anti-Harassment Training Required by Jan 1 in CA(posted: Jul, 2019) 
New anti-harassment training requirements, for all California employers with 5 or more employees, must be met by January 1, 2020. Are you prepared? Learn more about what is expected of California businesses. Plus, we can help. |
California Emergency Wildfire Smoke Regulation(posted: Jul, 2019) 
Emergency regulations to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke took effect on July 29th. Here's what you need to know. |
New Harassment Prevention Training Required by Jan 1(posted: Jun, 2019)
California's new anti-harassment laws demand that employers meet the new training requirements by January 1, 2020. Are you prepared? |
NLRB: Uber Drivers are Independent Contractors(posted: May, 2019) 
The National Labor Relations Board's general counsel said in a memorandum that Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees. But keep in mind that in some states, including California, other laws and tests may outweigh this decision. |
SF Minimum Wage Increases July 1(posted: May, 2019) 
Reminder that businesses in San Francisco will need to increase their workers' minimum wage as of July 1, 2019. |
Employers: Submit EEO-1 Pay Data by Sept 30(posted: Apr, 2019) 
Regular EEO-1 data still must be filed by May 31, and it's possible that there will be an appeal or a stay, but plan now for submission by 9-30-19. |
Small Businesses: Keep Non-Compliant Health Coverage thru 2020(posted: Apr, 2019) 
This is another extension, good through 2020. Policies renewed under this extension have to come into compliance by January 1, 2021. |
EEO-1 Report Deadline Extended(posted: Mar, 2019)
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's EEO-1 survey is now due May 31st. This survey applies to employers with 100 or more employees. |
International Womens Day 2019(posted: Mar, 2019) 
Observed since 1911, this is a day to celebrate women's achievements, and to renew your committment to equality and balance. This year's theme is balance. |
Employers: Double Check Your Background Check(posted: Feb, 2019)
Ninth Circuit has tightened background check rules, specifically related to getting consent from applicants and employees. Here's what employers need to know. |
Health FSA Limit Increases in 2019(posted: Jan, 2019) 
The amount employees can contribute will go up slightly this year. |
Enforcement Letters: What You Need to Know(posted: Jan, 2019) 
IRS letters regarding compliance with the employer shared responsibility rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for 2016 are arriving. Here's what you need to know. |
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News from 2018 | |
Minimum Salary for White Collar Employees Goes Up(posted: Dec, 2018)
Effective January 1, 2019, the rate at which general, "white collar" employees are exempt from overtime requirements will increase. |
CA: Software Employees Exemption Rates Increase(posted: Nov, 2018)
Effective January 1, 2019, the rate at which computer software employees are exempt from overtime requirements will increase. |
CA Harassment Prevention Training Changes Coming(posted: Oct, 2018)
Beginning January 1, 2020, parts of California's sexual harassment prevention training requirements will change. |
SF Employers Reminder: Ban the Box Changes Oct 1st(posted: Sep, 2018) Reminder that this change, aligning San Francisco's law with the new California state law, becomes effective October 1st. |
CA Employers Must Pay Minutes Worked Off the Clock(posted: Aug, 2018) 
California Supreme Court decision: employers must compensate employees for small amounts of time they spend off the clock doing minor activites, such as clocking in or going through security procedures. |
US Supreme Court Validates Employment Arbitration Clauses(posted: Jun, 2018)
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that companies can mandate arbitration clauses with class action waivers in their employee contracts. |
San Francisco Updates Paid Sick Leave Law(posted: Jun, 2018)
What San Francisco employers need to know about changes to the City's Paid Sick Leave law. |
Independent Contractor? Think Twice - California Employers Now Face Tougher Rules(posted: May, 2018)
Supreme court decision puts burden of employee classification on California businesses. New test for determining employee or independent contractor status will be used going forward. |
ACA Transitional Policy Extended(posted: Apr, 2018)
Small businesses may be able to keep their health plans under the ACA through 2019 without worrying about compliance issues. |
San Francisco Amends 'Ban the Box' Law(posted: Apr, 2018) This change, effective October 1st, will align San Francisco's law with the new California state law. |
Court-Women Can't be Paid Less Based on Previous Salary(posted: Apr, 2018) 
A unanimous decision by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals says that previous salary histories are potentially biased against women, and thus not an acceptable basis for new salaries. |
Patty Woolcock Co-Authors New Article(posted: Mar, 2018) 
What happens when innovative companies, in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, allow themselves to fall prey to arrogance and pride? Failure to adapt and ultimately, decline of the once successful company. |
HR Symposium 2018(posted: Mar, 2018) 
HRSPI will be attending this premier Bay Area HR event on April 5th. We hope to see you there! |
New Income Tax Withholding Tables Released(posted: Feb, 2018) The new tables reflect changes instigated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in December 2017. |
New California Laws 2018(posted: Jan, 2018) 
California has new employment and labor laws in 2018, relating to harassment prevention training, leave, discrimination & retaliation and more. |
CA Employers: Harassment Prevention Training Adds Provisions(posted: Jan, 2018)
SB 396 adds new provisions to harassment training and policies expanding protection based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation. |
News from 2017 | |
CA Employers: No Asking for Applicant Salary History(posted: Nov, 2017)
AB 168 will prohibit employers from asking job applicants for their salary histories, or using them to decide pay. |
California Bans the Box(posted: Oct, 2017) 
AB 1008 will prohibit most public and private employers from asking applicants about criminal conviction histories until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. |
Latest Article from Patty Woolcock(posted: Jun, 2017) 
Becoming a Chief Human Resources Officer is no easy task. Read the latest from Patty to learn some tips to guide your career towards the top HR position. |
Minimum Wage Increases in Several CA Cities(posted: Jun, 2017) 
Four California cities have separate minimum wage increases going into effect on July 1st. |
HRSPI Sponsors HR Symposium 2017(posted: Apr, 2017)
Once again, we are sponsoring this great HR event on May 3rd. Hope to see you there! |
Understanding the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit(posted: Jan, 2017) 
Does your small business offer health insurance coverage to your employees? You may qualify for a tax credit. |
ACA Remains in Effect After Executive Order(posted: Jan, 2017)
President Trump has signed an executive order calling upon federal administrative agencies to minimize the economic burden of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pending repeal of the law. Until further guidance is issued or legislation is signed, however, all |
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News from 2016 | |
Patty Woolcock Joins HR Solutions Partners Team(posted: Sep, 2016) 
HR Solutions Partners is excited to announce Patty Woolcock as the newly-appointed Executive Director of our HR Search & Interim Staffing. |
CA Employers: Providing Notice of Domestic Violence Rights(posted: Sep, 2016)
California employers with 25 or more employees must inform each one in writing of their rights regarding domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. |
Compliance: Revised Posters Required August 1st(posted: Aug, 2016)
New (revised) posters for the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act must be posted as of August 1, 2016. |
SF Employers: Minimum Wage Increases July 1st(posted: Jun, 2016)
Minimum wage goes up to $13 per hour; you'll find posting and notice requirements in this article. |
New Overtime Laws Effective December 1(posted: May, 2016) Get the details here, including a breakdown of what employers need to know, and how to handle newly reclassified employees. |
SF Employers Compliance Alert: New Paid Parental Leave Law(posted: Apr, 2016) 
San Francisco is the first US city to require employer-funded parental leave to supplement California's family leave, beginning in 2017. |
HR Symposium 2016(posted: Feb, 2016)
HRSPI is a major sponsor for the event again this year. Join us April 26th in Santa Clara! The speaker line up includes execs from Pinterest, Starbucks & SurveyMonkey... |
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News from 2015 | |
California Minimum Wage Increases Jan 1, 2016(posted: Dec, 2015)
California employers need to be prepared for another state-wide minimum wage increase at the beginning of 2016. |
Employers: 5 Supreme Court Cases to Watch(posted: Dec, 2015)
2016 brings a handful of employement law cases that employers may want to watch. |
Employers: California's New Fair Pay Act(posted: Dec, 2015) 
The new Fair Pay Act goes into effect January 1, 2016. Here's what California employers need to know about how this law will impact their workplace. |
New California Employment Laws(posted: Oct, 2015)
Fair Pay Act & meal period waivers for health care workers. |
California Mandates Paid Sick Leave as of July 1, 2015(posted: Jun, 2015)
Employers, are you prepared for California's new paid sick leave law? |
HR Symposium 2015(posted: Mar, 2015)
HR Solutions Partners (HRSPI) is proud to be a major sponsor of the "2015 HR Symposium". |
HRSPI Workshop: HR Compliance Audits(posted: Jan, 2015) 
In a rare workshop open to the public, Donna DeGrande will take you through the basics of a human resources audit. |
New Laws in 2015(posted: Jan, 2015)
There are a host of new employment and labor-related laws and/or regulations that became effective on January 1, 2015. |
News from 2014 | |
California Adds Anti-Bullying to Harassment Prevention(posted: Nov, 2014)
Starting January 1, 2015 California employers will need to add abusive conduct to their mandatory sexual harassment prevention training. |
Does Telecommuting Decrease Absenteeism?(posted: Oct, 2014) 
Survey indicates flexible work arrangements (FWAs) are successful and can improve productivity. |
Client Training at Project HIRED(posted: Sep, 2014) 
HR Solutions Partners has been selected to provide training for clients at Project HIRED. |
Government Contractors: Fair Pay,Safe Workplaces(posted: Aug, 2014)
Companies that violate labor laws will find it tougher now to do business with the federal government. |
Bay Area Commuter Benefits(posted: Jul, 2014) 
By September 30, 2014, Bay Area employers with 50 or more employees (excluding seasonal/temporary employees) must comply with the new Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program (CBP). |
New COBRA Notices(posted: Jul, 2014) 
The Department of Labor (DOL) has released two new model notices regarding COBRA eligibility. |
Work Sharing Plans - Requirement Changes(posted: Jul, 2014) The California Employment Development Department (EDD) uses a special work sharing program to help companies avoid mass layoffs by sharing the available work among employees. |
Background Checks - Changes(posted: Jul, 2014) 
AB 218 prohibits a state or local agency from asking an applicant to disclose information regarding a criminal conviction until after the agency determines the applicant meets minimum employment qualifications. |
Workers' Compensation - Regulation Change(posted: Jul, 2014) 
Workers' compensation regulations on the predesignation of personal physicians take effect July 1. |
Paid Family Leave Changes Require New Notices(posted: Jul, 2014) 
SB 770 expands Paid Family Leave (PFL) wage-replacement benefits for employees so that they include benefits for''' time taken off to care for a seriously ill grandparent, grandchild, sibling or parent-in-law. |
Minimum Wage Notice Requirements(posted: Jul, 2014)
With the minimum wage increase taking place today, employers also have several requirements for posting and providing notices to employees... |
FMLA Proposed Rule: Coverage for All Same-Sex Couples(posted: Jun, 2014) 
In a new rule change proposed by the Department of Labor, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) would cover same-sex married couples in all 50 states. |
California Minimum Wage Increases July 1(posted: May, 2014)
On July 1, 2014 the California minimum wage increases to $9.00 per hour. |
HRSPI Major Sponsor of HR Symposium 2014(posted: Mar, 2014) 
HR Solutions Partners (HRSPI) is proud to be a major sponsor of the 2014 HR Symposium, the premier human resources event in Northern California. |
Donna DeGrande Keynote Speaker at January 2014 CEAC(posted: Mar, 2014)
Donna DeGrande will be presenting a keynote speech January 28th for the California Employer Advisory Council. |
Now Offering HR Executive Search(posted: Mar, 2014)
HR Solutions Partners (HRSPI) is pleased to announce the expansion of our current HR Talent Search Practice to include Executive Search. |
