The federal government recently announced that it will delay implementation of the new E-Verify rule until February 20, 2009.  We previously reported that the new E-Verify rule was set to go into effect on January 15, 2009 (E-Verify).  However, in response to a legal challenge by business groups, the federal government has agreed to postpone the effective date of the new rules requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to use E-Verify.

The delay resulted from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Society of Human Resources Management, claiming that the mandatory use of E-Verify violates the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act.  The new regulation directed federal contractors to use the E-Verify system to ensure that all new hires and employees working on government projects are eligible to work in the United States.  (For more details, please see BRGS  December 14, 2008 Compliance Matters.)  Click here to read the article (Article)

 

There are new mandatory changes to the 2009 Workplace Posters.  In particular, mandatory changes have been made to three of the notices that all California employers are required to display to explain workers' rights to employees.  They include: (1) New Federal Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA") poster; (2) new Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) workplace poster; and (3) the California Employment Development Department (EDD) notice to employees.  All California employers should post these new posters in a conspicuous place at the workplace.

In addition to the new workplace posters, there are also new required pamphlets that must be given to employees.  They are: (1) Workers' Compensation Rights & Benefits (required for new hires); (2) State Disability Insurance Pamphlets (required for new hires and employees taking non-work-related disability leave); and (3) Unemployment Insurance pamphlets (required for any employee who becomes unemployed).  Be sure to distribute the updated pamphlets.

All of these new posters and pamphlets can be obtained online from the California Chamber of Commerce, at www.calbizcentral.com.

 
Your Firm contact is ready to answer your questions relating to these new developments.