OREANDA-NEWS. January 21, 2016. Two new California laws are set to take effect on January 1, 2016, that would greatly enhance the enforcement platform of the California Labor Commissioner’s office.  California Senate Bill 588 enacts special provisions for the enforcement of judgments against an employer arising from the employer’s nonpayment of wages for work performed there.  These provisions include stop work order, liens against employer property and levies against bank accounts, among other countermeasures aimed at employers engaging in wage theft.

Assembly Bill 970 authorizes the Labor Commissioner to investigate and, upon a request from a local entity, to enforce local laws regarding overtime hours or minimum wage provisions and to issue fines for violations, except when the local entity has already issued a penalty for the same violation.

These two new laws expand the already considerable powers of the Labor Commissioner’s office and put non-complying employers in an even more precarious position.  Any employers with workers in California should review their wage payment and wage theft notification processes to ensure compliance to the letter of the law.

Form Updates Pose Additional Challenge for Employers

In addition to the expanded powers of the California Labor Commissioner’s office the state has updated several required new hire notification forms.  It is imperative that employers stay abreast of form updates and new state regulations that may impact their onboarding processes.

Employers should have a process in place to track form changes on an ongoing basis.  The end of the year is a good time to perform an internal form version audit to ensure your state required new hire forms are in compliance with the most recent legislation and form updates.

Bottom Line

Equifax Workforce Solutions can help simplify compliance with required state new hire notifications through the State Compliance Solution on Compliance Center, a streamlined, configurable technology portal that combines innovative onboarding compliance solutions to help employers manage legislative mandates, increase efficiency and reduce risk.

Equifax works diligently to help support employers to manage compliance with new and existing state and federal new hire notification requirements including tracking of new and updated forms and legislation.