As 2024 draws near, so does a slew of new laws and regulations that will affect California businesses. Every year, laws passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by the governor take effect, and 2023 was a busy legislative session in Sacramento. The end result is another round of new legislation that employers…
The IRS recently announced that the annual contribution limit for flexible spending accounts will rise to $3,200 in 2024, up $150 from this year. Also, employees will be able to carry over up to $640 next year into 2025 if they have funds left over in their account, if their employer allows it (it’s optional).…
Holiday parties have made a comeback despite, or maybe because of, more people working remotely. Many managers want to bring their teams together under one roof as it’s become apparent that connecting face-to-face is vital to a vibrant and cohesive work atmosphere. But if you are planning on throwing a company holiday party, there are…
American employers are trying to meet their workers’ mental health needs as they struggle with burnout and stress from their jobs and finances, according to a new report. The annual “Aflac WorkForces Report” found that more than 50% of American workers experience burnout in their workplace. Additionally, 57% experience work-related stress, with heavy workloads the…
Microsoft Corp. has issued a warning that cyber criminals are exploiting its Teams video-conferencing platform to launch phishing attacks that can debilitate companies that are victims of these actions. Hackers often abuse the Microsoft Teams platform to launch cyber attacks and the latest threat the company is tracking is called Storm-0324, which it has deemed…
A new report has found that the top driver of health care costs in the U.S. is chronic conditions, emphasizing the role that employers can assume in helping their employees better maintain these ailments. Chronic diseases are a major strain on the health care system, and they are costly to treat. Worse, many people with…
Employment in the construction industry is surging as pent-up demand means that more homes are being built at a brisk pace. But this new growth in housing has come at a price for those working in the industry: a significant jump in construction workplace deaths and injuries. In 2022, 976 construction workers died on the…
Employers should brace for increased enforcement by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after it received a budget boost and has a new board member, breaking a deadlock that’s been going on for nearly a year. Here’s the latest EEOC news that’s pointing to more robust enforcement by the agency: In the federal government’s fiscal…
It is good news that small businesses are thriving, with many of them enjoying growing sales over the last two years. The bad news is that their insurance protection has not kept pace, according to a recent report. That means an accidental loss could undo all the progress they’ve made, or even threaten their survival.…
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a measure that will require nearly every employer in California to have in place a workplace violence prevention plan. The expansive new law, which takes effect July 1, 2024, will require any company with at least one worker to “establish, implement and maintain” a workplace violence prevention plan,…