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Ridgemark Insurance Services
Cal/OSHA Urges Employers to Protect Outdoor Workers Against Heat Illness
As we get closer to another scorching California summer, Cal/OSHA is reminding employers with outdoor workers to take precautions to protect them against the heat. California employers need to be especially mindful as Cal/OSHA has workplace safety regulations...
Cal/OSHA’s New COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard Loosens Some Requirements
Cal/OSHA has issued new language that amends its current COVID-19 emergency temporary standard and pushes back the expiration date of the ETS until the end of the year. The extension of the ETS comes as Cal/OSHA pushes ahead on creating a permanent airborne infectious...
Bureau Recommends 7.6% Workers’ Comp Rate Hike
California's Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau is recommending that benchmark workers' compensation rates for all class codes in the state increase an average of 7.6%. The proposal comes as the economy heats up and, typically during times of growth,...
Return to Work Not Just for Workers’ Compensation Claimants
More employers are using return-to-work programs for injured workers even if they were not injured on the job, according to a study by Prudential Insurance Co. of America. Many employers have a return-to-work program for their injured employees because it cuts down on...
Funds Transfer Fraud Increasingly Affects Small Firms
While ransomware is making the headlines as the major cyber threat for businesses, small and mid-sized organizations are increasingly being targeted by lower fraud that dupes them into wiring criminals funds, according to a new report. These funds transfer fraud...
CalSavers Registration for Small Employers Deadline Nears
The deadline is fast approaching for employers with 5 or more workers in California, and who do not already offer their employees a retirement plan, to register their staff for the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. Only California employers that do not offer...
Transitioned to Remote Work? Don’t Fall Afoul of Wage and Hour Laws
With many companies having decided to allow staff to work remotely permanently or split time between working at home and in the office, employers have to be especially careful about timekeeping and complying with wage and hour laws. That includes requiring staff to...
How Tracking Near Misses, Employee COncerns Reduces Injuries
The latest trend in workplace safety best practices is tracking "leading indicators" ― or measuring performance based on the lessons learned from past events ― to reduce the chances of future injuries. Safety professionals are increasingly keeping track of near...
Private Attorneys General Act Has Employers on the Defensive
The way courts have interpreted a California law — the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which has been on the books for 18 years — has led to an explosion of lawsuits against employers during the last few years. The law has generated more than 20,000 lawsuits...
COVID Paid Sick Leave May Be Coming Back
Legislators in Sacramento have fast-tracked new legislation that will extend paid COVID-19 leave benefits for workers in California. AB 84, which Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised to sign, would require employers with 26 or more workers to provide up to 40 hours of...