California has re-established the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC), an agency that can develop strict industry-specific rules that may affect wages, working conditions and workers' rights.
This move could help the Legislature get around obstacles it has faced in regulating certain areas, such as the fast-food sector and gig workers. The IWC revival is part of the 2023 budget bill, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 10.
Employers should take the time to understand the new development and how it could affect their operations.
A California Labor Agency Returns, and Employers Will Feel the Impact
SHRM | Jul 2023
Important Dates: Under AB 102, the IWC shall convene by January 1, 2024, with any final recommendations for wages, hours, and working conditions in new wage orders adopted by October 31, 2024.
Text of the measure.
Law Firm Articles
The IWC, originally established in 1913 to regulate the working conditions of women and children in California, is now one of the state administrative agencies responsible for regulating wages, hours, and working conditions in California workplaces. The passage of AB 102 is a significant development for California employers given that the IWC was defunded in July 2004 and has not convened as a regulatory body since that time.
Newsom Revives the California Industrial Welfare Commission After Almost 20 Years
Carothers | Jul 2023
"Of the amount appropriated in Schedule (5), $3,000,000 shall be available for the Industrial Welfare Commission to convene industry-specific wage boards and adopt orders specific to wages, hours, and working conditions in such industries, provided that any such orders shall not include any standards that are less protective than existing state law."
California Legislature Resurrects Dormant Industrial Welfare Commission
Floyd | Jul 2023
The IWC will prioritize industries in which 10% or more workers are at or below the federal poverty level.
The Return of the Industrial Welfare Commission
Shaw | Jul 2023
California Revives Industrial Wage Commission
Jackson Lewis | Jul 2023
An organization run by AI is not a futuristic concept. Such technology is already a part of many workplaces and will continue to shape the labor market and HR. Here's how employers and employees can successfully manage generative AI and other AI-powered systems.
Related Content
HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.
Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.