Teresa McQueen, Author at Western Growers Association Western Growers Association

Teresa McQueen

Western Growers, Corporate Counsel III

Teresa McQueen is Corporate Counsel III for Western Growers. In that capacity she provides advice and counsel to the organization on employment law matters and commercial trade practices. She also provides legal guidance to Western Growers members on employment law, human resources, and commercial agreements, as well as providing law-related educational opportunities and overseeing annual […]

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Posts By: Teresa McQueen

California Proposes Updates to Pregnancy and Bonding Leave Regulations

California’s Civil Rights Council has proposed significant updates to the regulations governing pregnancy disability leave, workplace accommodations, temporary transfers and bonding leave. The proposal is intended to modernize regulations that have not been updated in more than a decade and, where appropriate, align California protections with the federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. The…

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AI Is Growing Up: Employers Shift Their Focus from Adoption to ROI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly moved from a workplace experiment to everyday business tool. But as employers become more comfortable with AI, a new question is coming into focus: Is it actually delivering measurable business value? McKinsey & Company’s latest global survey suggests the answer is both yes and not yet. Nearly nine in ten respondents report regular AI use in at…

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Best Practices: Performance Reviews Formats

Performance reviews, or employee evaluations, are an important tool for supervisors and managers to strengthen employees’ performance and acknowledge high achievers. For effective performance reviews we provide the following tips on performance review formats. The two major styles in writing reviews are a narrative style and a rating system. The narrative requires the manager or…

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Cal/OSHA Moves to Define Egregious and Enterprise-Wide Violations

When California enacted SB 606 in 2021, it created two powerful new Cal/OSHA enforcement tools: Egregious Violations and Enterprise-Wide Violations. While those provisions have been on the books for several years, Cal/OSHA is only now proposing regulations that would establish how the agency intends to classify these violations and calculate penalties under the law. To that end, Cal/OSHA has…

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E-Verify Records Scheduled for Deletion: What Employers Should Do Now

For employers that have participated in E-Verify for many years, the start of 2027 brings an important record-retention deadline. USCIS recently announced that employers have until January 8, 2027, to download E-Verify records for cases last updated on or before December 31, 2016. After that date, USCIS will permanently dispose of those records as part of its records retention…

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California Expands Workplace AI and Surveillance Rules: What Employers Should Know Before 2027

On September 30, 2026, Governor Newsom signed four bills regulating California employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated decision-making systems (ADS), and workplace surveillance. The laws require employers to understand what their workplace technology collects and how it affects employment decisions Human Review for Automated Discipline and Termination SB 947 (No Robo…

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California Employers: Election Day Voting Leave Reminder

California Elections Code section 14001 mandates that all employers inform employees about their rights to take paid leave for voting in statewide elections. Here are the key points: Notice Posting: Employers must post the required “Time Off to Vote” notice 10 days before a statewide election. This Election Day notice must be posted no later than Saturday, October 24, 2026. The notice…

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The Termination Process

The employment relationship can end for a variety of reasons and in many ways. How a separation occurs has as much to do with limiting an employer’s risk as why separation was necessary in the first place. What follows are a few key steps employers should keep in mind before, during and after a termination has occurred. Understand applicable laws. Given that ‘at-will’ employment…

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California CRD Investigatory Authority Puts Multi-State Employers on Notice

A recent California Court of Appeal decision reinforces the California Civil Rights Department’s (CRD) authority to investigate alleged violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), even when an employer contends that the underlying conduct occurred outside California. In Civil Rights Department v. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., the court affirmed an order requiring the…

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Religious Accommodation Requires More Than Assumptions

As discussed, here, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy raised the bar for employers seeking to deny a religious accommodation based on undue hardship. The case clarified that employers must demonstrate a substantial burden on business operations, not merely a more-than-minimal inconvenience. A more recent Ninth Circuit decision provides an important example of how…

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California Uses Expanded Crop Lien to Recover Farmworker Wages

A recent enforcement action by California labor regulators highlights the growing significance of the state's expanded agricultural crop lien law. In September 2026, the California Labor Commissioner's Office announced that 11 Coachella Valley farmworkers recovered nearly $10,000 in unpaid wages and penalties after the agency filed a crop lien during a wage investigation. According to the…

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Cal/OSHA Proposes Changes to Heat Illness Prevention Standards

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has released a revised discussion draft proposing changes to its outdoor and indoor heat illness prevention standards. The revisions are intended to implement Assembly Bill 2243 and remain open for stakeholder comment through September 21, 2026. The proposal is not yet a final or enforceable regulation. Among the most…

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Cal/OSHA Issues Heat Illness Reminder as Temperatures Rise

As high temperatures continue across California, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers to take proactive steps to protect workers from heat illness at both indoor and outdoor worksites. Employers should confirm that required heat illness prevention measures are in place, including access to drinking water, shade or cool-down areas, rest breaks, and employee training. Outdoor employers…

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EEOC Releases Strategic Plan for 2026-2030

On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced its updated Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026-2030 (the Plan). Effective immediately, the Plan establishes the EEOC’s operational framework and performance measures through 2030 and identifies how the agency will carry out the priorities of its National Enforcement Plan for Fiscal Years…

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Mexico Employers Should Prepare for New Electronic Timekeeping Requirements

Employers with operations in Mexico should begin preparing for new mandatory electronic timekeeping requirements scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027. As part of Mexico’s broader working-time reforms, employers will be required to maintain auditable electronic records that provide labor authorities greater oversight of employee working hours, making electronic timekeeping an…

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Western Growers Welcomes Raul Leal as Learning and Development Manager, Western Growers University

Western Growers is pleased to welcome Raul Leal as its new Learning and Development Manager supporting Western Growers University. Raul brings more than 18 years of experience in bilingual organizational learning, leadership development, and strategic advising, with a strong focus on helping teams turn complex workplace topics into practical, accessible training. Raul brings a…

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Best Practices: Don’t Let This Summer’s Lessons Go to Waste

With July workplace violence prevention training completed for many California employers and summer heat conditions still top of mind, late summer and early fall can be an ideal time to evaluate what worked, identify gaps, and begin preparing for next year's training cycle. California's Workplace Violence Prevention Plan (WVPP) requirements mandate annual training for covered employees,…

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Colorado Seeks Input on Proposed ADMT Regulations

As discussed here, on May 14, 2026, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law SB-26-198 (ADMT Act), which focuses on the use of automated decision-making technology (ADMT) in certain high-impact decisions. The ADMT Act requires the Colorado Attorney General’s Office to adopt rules clarifying and implementing specific provisions of the law before January 1, 2027. In…

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Best Practices: Don’t Always Default to Leave as an Accommodation

When an employee requests assistance related to a medical condition, many employers instinctively focus on a leave of absence. While leave can be a reasonable accommodation in some circumstances, it is not always the first or best solution. A recent federal appellate decision is an important reminder that employers should engage in a timely, good faith interactive process and consider…

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Warehousing in Focus: OSHA Renews National Emphasis Program

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has renewed its National Emphasis Program (NEP) on Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations, effective July 31, 2026. The renewed NEP specifically covers Farm Product Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493130) and will remain in effect for five years. OSHA renewed the program because Days Away,…

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