From left to right: Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce executive board members; Michael Brenk, Bachem Americas; Dan Armendariz, California Water Service Company; Barbara Graham, Torrance Refining Company; Jeanne Imbrogno, AMAG; Kirk Rossberg, Torrance Bakery; Serena Josel, Kaiser Permanente; Donna Duperron, President and CEO; and Andrea Sala, El Camino College. |
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Thank You Chairman Rossberg |
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The Executive Board of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce convened yesterday for a regularly scheduled meeting and to also provide appreciation to Kirk Rossberg, Torrance Bakery for his leadership as Chairman of the Board, 2021 – 2022. During his tenure as chair, Rossberg was an advocate for business. He facilitated and attended roundtables and webinars, as well as participated virtually in conversations with Dr. Anthony Fauci and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Rossberg was also recognized as the Small Business Advocate of the Year by the California Chamber of Commerce. |
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Cal/OSHA Adopts Rules to Require Ongoing Masking in the Workplace |
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After a day-long meeting that included hours of public testimony and internal deliberations, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board ultimately adopted a new set of regulations that will require most indoor workers, including those who have been vaccinated, to wear face masks at work if any other worker onsite is unvaccinated. The rules are out of step with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and the Governor’s own directive to re-open the state on June 15.
The California Chamber of Commerce has urged Cal/OSHA to act in accordance with the CDC and the Governor. The CalChamber is leading a large and vocal coalition of business groups that are calling for elimination of the overly burdensome measures in the new regulations, many of which are in direct conflict with CDC guidance. The CalChamber’s coalition submitted written comments prior to the hearing and offered detailed analysis during testimony yesterday expressing the issues and problems employers and employees will face as a result of these new rules. Read more.
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Serena Josel to be Installed as Chairwoman at Installation and Impact Awards 2021 |
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Jon us for the Installation and Impact Awards next Thursday, June 17th at 8:30 am. This annual event recognizes and installs incoming Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce 2021-2022 Chairwoman of the Board, Serena Josel by Senator Steve Bradford with Mark Waronek as Master of Ceremonies and honors individuals and/or businesses who have displayed outstanding performance. Registration is live. Register at www.torrancechamber.com/virtualimpact2021/
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Torrance Chamber Announces Webinar for Restaurants |
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The Torrance Chamber is partnering with Greater San Fernando Chamber and many other Chambers to present the FREE webinar "Social Media Tips for Restaurants" June 22, 9:00-10:00 am with an optional session immediately following to review individual profiles Learn to maximize social media for your business by learning about: engagement, the problem with "growing your following," business vs influencer, conversion vs following, using data to drive your content and more! Register now!
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Torrance Ranked as "Most Business-Friendly City" by L.A. Business Leaders |
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In a recently completed survey of Los Angeles area business leaders, when queried about the “most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County,” 18% of respondents selected the city of Torrance. The survey, completed by 782 respondents, included 214 participating organizations comprising 100% of BizFed’s membership spread across 19 industry sectors. The survey analyzed key topics that impact business operation and profitability including workforce levels, remote work, childcare challenges, the effectiveness of government relief programs and other topics.
“It’s encouraging that Torrance’s business community acknowledges the work that the City Council and men and women who work at the City put into making Torrance a great place to live, work and raise a family,” stated Mayor Patrick J. Furey, city of Torrance. “We’re committed to maintaining this hard-earned ranking by working with businesses, large and small, in our city.” Read more.
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3 Job Killer Bills Still Active; Would Impose Onerous Labor Mandates |
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The remaining job killer bills would impose onerous labor and employment mandates, and increase liability for employers:AB 616 (Stone; D-Scotts Valley) Forced Unionization Process for Agricultural Employees, AB 701 (Gonzalez; D-San Diego) PAGA Litigation, and Regulations for Warehouses, and SB 62 (Durazo; D-Los Angeles) Increased Costs and Liability on Employers: Read more.
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TUSD End of the Year Update
By Tammy Khan
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Last March, our sense of normal was turned upside down. In what has undoubtedly been a complicated year, I am most proud of how we moved forward, as a community, to tackle the obstacles of a global health crisis. Our students, staff, and families faced these challenges with a growth mindset, while continuing to be flexible as situations changed. Teachers adapted to new ways to teach and connect with students, students learned new ways to engage with their classmates and friends, and parents took on new roles to support their children during the school day.
Despite the challenges of the past year, TEAM TUSD continued to make strides and create new opportunities for students to grow and thrive! In particular, we are excited to offer a brand new Dual Language Program in Spanish to our incoming kindergarten students at Carr and Torrance Elementary Schools. Students in a bilingual program achieve greater academic success, develop socio-cultural competence, and have more enriching school experiences. Read more.
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Updated EEOC COVID-19 Guidance Confirms Employee Vaccine Incentives |
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On May 28, 2021, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws,” to address several vaccine-related topics, such as vaccine incentives, vaccine mandates, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) reasonable accommodations for vaccine exemptions and more. Here’s the highlights:
- Employers May Offer Incentives for COVID-19 Voluntary Vaccinations
- Employers May Mandate the COVID-19 Vaccine But Must Reasonably Accommodate
- Employers May Ask About or Require Documentation That an Employee Obtained the COVID-19 Vaccine
Employers with existing vaccination programs (whether voluntary or mandatory), or those considering the implementation of a vaccination program (including incentivizing employees who voluntarily receive the vaccine), should continue to monitor for any additional updates. Read more.
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Calif. Governor Seems Unlikely to Lift Worker Mask Mandate |
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared disinclined Friday to insert himself into the regulatory process for workplaces after a state safety board upset business groups by approving new rules that require all workers to wear masks unless everyone around them is vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The revised rules, approved after a long and sometimes contentious meeting Thursday, eliminate social distancing requirements in workplaces but run counter to Newsom’s plan to ”fully” reopen California in less than two weeks and allow vaccinated people to skip face coverings in nearly all situations. Read more
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Employer Vaccination Toolkit |
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California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Department of Industrial Relations has created a site to serve as a resource to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace and bring awareness and easy access to vital programs, services and information offered by the Department of Industrial Relations. With the right information and tools, we hope to reach and motivate workers and employers to protect themselves, their workplace, and their community. Learn more.
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During the pandemic, employees have been working extra hours, not only during normal workdays but also on holidays, and they now may be suffering from burnout — a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Good news, though! As workplaces and businesses are reopening, employees are ready to use that vacation time that’s likely been building up over the last year.
Forty-four percent of employees are more burned out than they were a year ago, up from 34 percent in 2020, according to a survey from global staffing firm Robert Half. Nearly half of employees blamed a heavier workload for their burnout, but workers also haven’t been taking their earned vacation time. Read more.
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The thing I like most about the chamber is the relationships. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. We have so much fun together even on Zoom! People always lift each other up and are so helpful. I love being an ambassador and helping chamber members make the most out of their membership and grow their business.
Claudine Garcia
The Promotions Dept
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Click On The Event To Register:
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Office Depot Rewards Program
As a member of Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, you are entitled to savings at Office Depot store. Discounts vary on items and services, but they do add up and you can save a significant amount annually on 175 most frequently needed items. Just another benefit of the membership! To enjoy this, Contact Us Here.
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