Department of Industrial Relations Archives

New Overtime Law for Agriculture Workers Was Never About the Workers

January 9, 2023 8:10 amJanuary 10, 2023 3:42 pm

After many failed attempts to unionize more agricultural workers in California, Gov. Jerry Brown instead signed into law Assembly Bill 1066 in 2016 by then-Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), to require overtime pay of time-and-a-half for farm employees working more than eight...

Governor Newsom Signed AB 257 – What Is the Fast Food Council?

September 6, 2022 6:21 amSeptember 6, 2022 6:26 am

On September 5, Labor Day, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 257. AB 257 is jointly authored by Assembly Members Chris Holden, Wendy Carrillo, Evan Low, and Luz Rivas. The bill also has eight co-authors from the two houses. AB...

Fast Food Managers, Owners Fear AB 257 Will Bring Job Loss, Higher Costs

September 2, 2022 4:22 pm

Following the passage of AB 257 earlier this week by the California Legislature, many local fast food managers and store owners quickly began looking for any way possible they can remain open. While a Fast Food Council in the Department...

Division of Worker’s Compensation to Resume Accepting In-Person Documents

August 9, 2022 12:57 pm

The Division of Worker’s Compensation, part of the Department of Industrial Relations, announced on Tuesday that “in-person walk-through” documents will once again be accepted next month, appeasing many workers who have been asking for the in-person option for years. Like the...

Bill To Increase Power, Protections of Fast Food Workers Passed in Assembly

February 1, 2022 5:18 amJanuary 31, 2022 7:19 pm

A bill that would drastically increase the power and protections of over 500,000 fast food workers passed in the Assembly on Monday with a vote of 41-19, paving the way for a Senate vote later this year. Assembly Bill 257,...

Bill To Regulate Warehouse Worker Productivity Quotas Passes Senate 26-11

September 9, 2021 11:15 am

A bill that would regulate productivity quotas in delivery warehouses, as well as publicly disclose what those quotas are, was passed in the state Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 26-11. Assembly Bill 701, authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez...

State Fines Amazon $6.4 Million Over Wage Theft Violations

March 9, 2021 2:36 pm

On Monday, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office announced that it is fining Amazon and Amazon delivery contractor Green Messengers a total of $6.4 million for wage theft violations. According to a release by the Department of Industrial Relations, the Labor...