The EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has rolled out the most dramatic shift in its enforcement posture in decades, narrowing some protections and targeting others, especially around disparate impact, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and gender identity. Also, with the confirmation of Commissioner Brittany Bull Panuccio in October 2025, the EEOC once again has a […]
This is the second of two parts, highlighting the top 10 laws and regulations affecting California businesses in 2026. Wage judgment penalties On Jan. 1, 2026, SB 261 expanded the potential liabilities for employers that fail to pay a final wage judgment. Under the new law, if an employer fails to pay a final judgment […]
With 2026 now upon us, so is a slew of new laws and regulations that affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2025 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another wave of new legislation that California […]
As the construction industry continues to rebound from the recession, contractors face evolving risks that, left unchecked, can leave their operations exposed to new liabilities. If you already operate a construction firm, you know that there is a labor shortage that has affected the makeup of your workforce, and that hiring entities are asking builders […]
With year-end festivities about to begin, you should include safety into your holiday plans, be that if you are simply decorating the office or throwing a holiday/year-end party for your staff. While you obviously want your staff to relax and have fun at your holiday party, you also want to make sure they get home […]
Drug and alcohol use by employees on or off the job is a troublesome societal plague that has put many employers on the defensive. Research by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that between 10% and 20% of the nation’s workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs. The same […]
California employers have new compliance challenges because of a law that further broadens the circumstances under which employees can take protected paid and unpaid leave. AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on last year’s revisions to the state’s paid sick and safe time and crime-victim leave laws, adding new categories of protected […]
Commercial auto insurance companies continue to post steep losses for liabilities like third-party injuries and property damage, which is driving continued rate hikes for businesses, particularly fleet operators, according to a new report from A.M. Best. The line posted its 14th consecutive year of underwriting losses in 2024, with liability coverage alone accounting for $4.5 […]
If you view annual open enrollment as a simple box-checking exercise, you’re likely missing out on helping your staff get the most out of the benefits you provide. Instead, if you approach open enrollment as a chance to strengthen employee engagement, control costs and help your workforce understand the full value of your benefits program, […]
In an effort to bring more insurers back into California’s homeowner’s and commercial property insurance market, the state Department of Insurance (DOI) has approved a system that will allow insurers to use forward-looking wildfire risk models to price policies in areas susceptible to wildfires. The DOI hopes this and other measures it’s been taking, will […]