Posts By: Jason Resnick

Recording of CA Private Attorneys General Act Webinar Now Available

Western Growers hosted an education session on “Overview and Understanding of the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)” yesterday, where attorney and employment law expert Jim Gumberg provided an in-depth overview of the statute. PAGA claims are the “New Normal” in California. PAGA authorizes “aggrieved employees” to act as private attorneys general and file lawsuits…

Cal/OSHA Updates Model Template for COVID-19 Prevention Plan

The revised Cal/OSHA model written COVID prevention plan replaces the original iteration and mirrors the requirements of the amended COVID-19 emergency temporary standards. Cal/OSHA states that the template plan is merely a suggestion and circumstances may warrant additional information to address the employer’s specific conditions. While employers are free to use their own prevention plan,…

Natalie Palugyai Nominated as California Labor Secretary

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Natalie Palugyai as Secretary of California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). A daughter of immigrants and an immigrant herself, she is the first Latina to be appointed Secretary of Labor. Palugyai comes from Johns Hopkins University, where she has served as senior advisor for strategic initiatives since ...

California Wildfire Preparation for Agricultural Workers

As wildfires continue to run rampant in California, numerous state agencies are on-hand to support employers in implementing enhanced workplace safety measures. It is important to remember that wildfire smoke and subsequent cleanup efforts present unique workplace hazards for agricultural workers. The Employment Development Department recently developed this one-sheet to guide agricultural…

The PRO Act: A Goody Bag for Organized Labor

On March 9, 2021, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 842, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act on a 225-206 vote (pulling in five Republican votes). The bill includes the most sweeping and expansive changes to labor relations legislation since passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935. The ...