FELS COVID-19 Updates March 30, 2021
  • DIR Furnishes Side-by-Side Snapshot of Paid Leave Options: The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has published this side-by-side comparison of various paid leave options available to California employees; California Family Rights Act/federal Family and Medical Leave Act unpaid leaves are not included.
  • DIR: Time for Employer-Mandated Vaccines/COVID-19 Tests is Compensable: The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) recently updated guidance on wage-and-hour implications of employer-mandated COVID-19 vaccination or COVID-19 testing. According to DIR, an employer must pay employees for time for employer-mandated vaccines or testing, including travel time because DIR considers this "hours worked," as the employee is subject to the employer's control. An employer may not require employees to utilize paid leave for this purpose. DIR also says the employer must bear the cost of employer-directed testing or vaccination. 
Nationwide Webinar - April 7, 2021
  • CalSavers Retirement Law Webinar Hosted for Employers: 
  • Our partner Nationwide is offering two upcoming webinars to explain the new 401 (k) Multiple Employer plan available for Farm Bureau agricultural members. 
  • This webinar will be on: April 7, 2021 from 12:30 - 1:30 PM PST 
  • Register for any of the sessions from computer, tablet or smartphone here 
  • These webinars are open to Agricultural members and this program could be a cost saver for many ag employers. 
  • The next deadline for the CA state mandated program CalSavers is June 30, 2021 and applies to employers with 51 or more employees. (Meaning companies of this size must have a retirement savings program for their employees offered thru CalSavers or an instrument like the one Nationwide and Farm Bureau is offering.)