CH Robinson Readies for Contingencies Due to I-10 Closure

C.H. Robinson (CHR), our partners in Western Growers Transportation Program, issued a notice to customers today reminding them that CHR stands ready to help with transportation contingency planning due to the closure of Interstate 10 near the California/Arizona border. The road and a bridge were washed out as a result of heavy rains that occurred on Sunday closing the portion of highway located near Desert Center in California, about 50 miles from the Arizona border and 170 miles from Los Angeles.

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Jeff Janas

DOL Issues Guidance on Independent Contractor Misclassification

On July 15, 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Wage and Hour Division, issued new interpretive guidance on proper classification of employees and independent contractors. In the guidance document, the DOL claims that misclassification of employees as independent contractors is “one of the most serious problems facing affected workers, employers, and the entire economy.” The guidance includes examples and case support for determining when a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.

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Jeff Janas

Washington Supreme Court Rules on Piece-Rate Workers’ Rest Breaks

The Washington Supreme Court, in a 9-0 decision, ruled Thursday that piece-rate farmworkers must be paid separately for rest breaks. The court also addressed the question of the applicable rate of pay for piece-rate workers while taking rest periods. The court held that pieceworkers must be paid at least the minimum wage or the pieceworker’s regular rate of pay (i.e., average piece rate), whichever is greater.

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Jeff Janas

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