By Stacey Sommerhauser, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP California employers should replace their current Cal/OSHA “Safety and Health Protection on the Job” poster with the updated version, as Cal/OSHA revised the notice’s contact information in April. The remainder of the...
Reminder!!! – Employees Should Update Their Emergency Contacts
By Stacey Sommerhauser, SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP If the March 30, 2026, deadline for distributing Emergency Contact Designation forms came and went a little faster than expected, you are certainly not alone. As a reminder, California employers are required to provide...
Cracking the Code on California Overtime Rules
By Kate Smith, SHRM-CP In California, overtime requirements for non-exempt employees are governed by state law and are calculated based on an employer’s established workday and workweek. Employers should clearly define their workday and workweek in a manner that...
Regular Rate, Irregular Headaches: Navigating the RRP Rules
By Ashley Holsey, SPHR, PHR If you’ve ever heard the phrase “regular rate of pay” and immediately grimaced, you’re not alone. There’s nothing “regular” about it, unless by regular you mean regularly confusing, regularly debated, and regularly avoided (please don’t...
Can We Talk? Why 1:1 Manager-Employee Conversations Matter More Than Ever
By Sarah Peterson, PHRca, SHRM-SCP Conversations between managers and employees are one of the most influential—and often overlooked—factors when dealing with mental health in the workplace. Managers are not expected to be therapists. But they do set the tone for...
OBBBA’s Not-So-Beautiful Overtime and Tip Reporting Requirements
Courtesy of Alexis Gabrielson at Cook Brown LLP See more on Cook Brown LLP website here. February 17th, 2026 The 2025 federal budget law “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) created two temporary federal income tax deductions that rely on employer information...
California Earned Income Tax Credit Notice – Second Notice Reminder
The refundable California Earned Income Tax Credit (California EITC) and other state and federal antipoverty credits are available to low-income working individuals who have either: Earned wage income subject to California withholding. Have net earnings from...
Interview Questions That Could Cost You – And How to Fix Them
By Sarah Peterson, PHRca, SHRM-SCP No employer would argue that interviewing is a critical step in the hiring process and the consequences of hiring the wrong person can have a lasting and costly impact. It’s for this reason that many employers ask questions in...
Who Gets the Call? New Emergency Contact Designation Form Requirement
By Kate Smith, SHRM-CP The next phase of the Workplace – Know Your Rights Act is quickly approaching. By March 30, 2026, employers must provide employees with the opportunity to designate an emergency contact. Employers should begin collecting these Emergency...