Posts By: Jason Resnick
- All
- August, 2026
- July, 2026
- June, 2026
- May, 2026
- April, 2026
- March, 2026
- February, 2026
- January, 2026
- December, 2025
- November, 2025
- October, 2025
- September, 2025
- August, 2025
- July, 2025
- June, 2025
- May, 2025
- April, 2025
- March, 2025
- February, 2025
- January, 2025
- December, 2024
- November, 2024
- October, 2024
- September, 2024
- August, 2024
- July, 2024
- June, 2024
- May, 2024
- April, 2024
- March, 2024
- February, 2024
- January, 2024
- December, 2023
- November, 2023
- October, 2023
- September, 2023
- August, 2023
- July, 2023
- June, 2023
- May, 2023
- April, 2023
- March, 2023
- February, 2023
- January, 2023
- December, 2022
- November, 2022
- October, 2022
- September, 2022
- August, 2022
- July, 2022
- June, 2022
- May, 2022
- April, 2022
- March, 2022
- February, 2022
- January, 2022
- December, 2021
- November, 2021
- October, 2021
- September, 2021
- August, 2021
- July, 2021
- June, 2021
- May, 2021
- April, 2021
- March, 2021
- February, 2021
- January, 2021
- December, 2020
- November, 2020
- October, 2020
- September, 2020
- August, 2020
- July, 2020
- June, 2020
- May, 2020
- April, 2020
- March, 2020
- February, 2020
- January, 2020
- December, 2019
- November, 2019
- October, 2019
- September, 2019
- July, 2019
- June, 2019
- May, 2019
- April, 2019
- March, 2019
- February, 2019
- January, 2019
- December, 2018
- November, 2018
- October, 2018
- September, 2018
- August, 2018
- July, 2018
- June, 2018
- May, 2018
- April, 2018
- March, 2018
- February, 2018
- January, 2018
- December, 2017
- November, 2017
- September, 2017
- July, 2017
- January, 2017
- December, 2016
- November, 2016
- October, 2016
- September, 2016
- June, 2016
- May, 2016
- March, 2016
- February, 2016
- January, 2016
- December, 2015
- November, 2015
- September, 2015
- July, 2015
- June, 2015
- May, 2015
- April, 2015
- March, 2015
- February, 2015
- January, 2015
Ag Workers and the COVID Vaccine: Moving Closer to a Post-Pandemic World
By Jason Resnick, Senior Vice President and General Counsel It has been more than a year since our lives were first upended by the coronavirus pandemic. The flood of information about the virus, the ever-rising case and death counts, and constantly changing legal guidance has exacerbated the challenge for all employers—especially in food and agriculture ...
AB 2183: What Can Farmers Expect in 2023 Webinar
Join us April 5th at 10am for the AB 2183: What Farmers Can Expect in 2023 Webinar. Ventura County Agricultural Association's Rob Roy and Western Growers' Jason Resnick will guide association members through understanding the implications of the AB 2183 amendment to the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA). This webinar will include: Do's and don'ts for employers in a card…
Fed OSHA Withdraws Vaccine-or Test Mandate for Large Employers
The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it is withdrawing the Biden administration’s temporary COVID-19 vaccine-or-test requirement for large employers. The decision was made in light of the Supreme Court’s decision blocking the rule. OSHA’S emergency temporary standard (ETS), issued Nov. 5, compelled companies with more than 100 workers to…
New 2021 Meal Charges and Reimbursement Rates
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration has announced the allowable meal charges and reimbursement for travel subsistence for H-2A workers, which will be officially published in the Federal Register on March 10. H-2A employers must offer and provide each H-2A worker three meals per day or provide the workers free and convenient cooking facilities.…
2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave FAQs Now Available
Under SB 95, employers with 25 or more employees will now be required to begin providing supplemental paid sick leave. To help employers and workers be aware of and comply with changes in the law regarding supplemental paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Department of Industrial Relations has published a 2021 COVID-19 ...
Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard: Model Covid-19 Prevention Program and Model Notices
On November 30, 2020, the California Department of Industrial Relations’ (DIR) Office of Administrative Law approved a new Cal/OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) regarding COVID-19. The ETS became effective immediately and applies, with limited exception, to all California employers. Those exempt from ETS compliance are: 1) single-employee employers who do not have contact with others;…
USCIS Announces Changes to Visa Petition Fees
On August 3, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Final Rule, which will impact the filing fees for many petitions, including H-2A petitions. Though the standard fee to file for any number of unnamed H-2A workers will decrease, the Rule includes dramatic fee increases for petitions that extend the stay ...
CDC Expands Definition of “Close Contact”
Yesterday, the CDC updated its definition of “close contact” of someone infected with the COVID-19. Previously, “close contact” was defined as someone spends more than 15 consecutive minutes within six feet of an infected individual. Now, CDC has updated its definition of a close contact as someone who was within six feet of an infected ...
U.S. Supreme Court to Review Union Access to California Farms
The United States Supreme Court has granted review in a case that will determine if the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA) regulation granting union organizers the right to enter private property to recruit employees constitutes an unconstitutional “taking” of private property under the Fifth Amendment. Under the “Access Rule,” farms must allow labor organizers ...
U.S. Department of Labor to Host Compliance Assistance Webinar for Agriculture Industry
The U.S. Department of Labor will be hosting a series of webinars in June and July to discuss how the Department is helping workers and employers by reducing regulatory burdens and making it easier to understand and comply with the law. The first in the series is dedicated to the agriculture industry and will feature ...
High Heat and Social Distancing
As the temperature is expected to rapidly increase this week, many clients with outdoor operations are asking about how to comply with the obligation to adhere to Cal/OSHA’s high heat regulations and the social distancing recommendations relating to COVID-19. The Cal/OSHA high heat procedures are located here. Note that the high heat procedures kick in when ...
DOL Issues Families First Coronavirus Response Act Q&A
Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Labor added additional Questions and Answers to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers. The updated Q&A addresses many key questions, and there are now 59 questions and answers posted, including answers to the following below: What is the effective date of the Families First Coronavirus Response ...
Colorado Equal Pay Act Signed into Law
On May 22, 2019, Colorado Governor Polis signed the “Equal Pay for Equal Work Act” into law, one of the toughest state pay equity laws in the country. Under the new law, employers are prohibited from paying an employee of one sex (including gender identity) a wage rate less than the rate paid to an ...
APMA H-2A Certificate Program Includes WG Leadership
The Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) is hosting a three-day in-depth educational certificate program, educating individuals on navigating the complex H-2A program. Taking into account the costly ramifications and adverse consequence of misusing the H-2A program for employees, businesses and the industry, the H-2A Certificate Program will provide vital information on the H-2A…
USCIS Advises Employers to Continue Using Expired Form I-9
On August 27, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advised employers to continue using the Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification that was released on July 17, 2017, and to disregard the August 31, 2019, expiration date printed on the form until further notice. Western Growers will provide updated information about the new version ...
Social Security Mismatch Update
Three months after the mismatch letters were sent out, Social Security finally responded to questions about an employers’ obligations when they receive a mismatch letter. Despite giving specific deadlines (60 days) in the letters to take action, the SSA is now saying they were meant to be educational in nature, and that “Social Security” will ...
California Law Requires Giving Employees Notice and Time Off to Vote
As Election Day (Tuesday, November 6th) draws near, it is important to keep in mind that California Law requires employers to give all employees who do not have sufficient time outside of working hours to vote in a statewide election time off to vote (California Election Code section 14000). Specifically, the laws provides: The employee ...
HR/Labor and Employment Law Course Available on April 17
The Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) will be offering a labor and employment law course on April 17, 2019, in Santa Maria, Calif. This session will provide an overview of the California and Federal labor and employment laws affecting agriculture, including wage and hour, harassment and discrimination, farm labor contractor regulation, union organizing and mandatory ...
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Launches New Website
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Julie Su recently announced the launch of the agency’s new website that houses resources and information for workers and employers on Assembly Bill (AB) 5. The website also serves as a portal for information on the ABC test, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding AB 5 and ...
SSA Distributes No-Match Letters for Tax Year 2018
Social Security No-Match Letters Are Back The Social Security Administration (SSA) has once again begun sending Social Security no-match letters to employers. The notice, titled SSA Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance Employer Correction Request, notifies the recipient that the employer reported X number of employee names and Social Security Numbers (SSN) on Form W-2 for ...