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In This Issue


Anniversaries

DRT Mgt. Inc (1991)
Diamond Creek Vyds (1992)
Miner Family Winery (1992)
Beckstoffer Vyds (1996)
Paloma Vineyards (2004)
Flowers Vyd & Winery (2009)
Shannon Ranches (2009)









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FEBRUARY 2013
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Live Well, Work Well

This Live Well, Work Well newsletter explains the fiscal cliff deal, provides ideas for staying hydrated in the winter, gives a refreshing quinoa recipe and encourages readers to participate in National Donor Day. Please click here to print and post the bulletin in English and in Spanish or contact us to request color reprints for your employees.

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FELS 2013 Wage and Benefits Survey

CGF, along with eight other organizations throughout California participate in this valuable survey showing prevailing wages for key agriculture job positions. Survey results are sorted by region, commodity and sponsoring association. We need your help to compile the information unique to members of CGF. You can complete and return the survey form to us or if you prefer, can participate online at: www.fels.net/survey 

Organization/Username: California Grower Foundation

Please base your responses on what you pay now or expect to pay in 2013.  All information is completely confidential. The results of this survey will be posted on the CGF website and also provided to you in booklet format.

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Health Care Reform Updates

On Jan. 24, 2013, federal regulators postponed the "notice of exchange" requirement for employers indefinitely. The law, which is part of the Affordable Care Act, originally required employers to give written notice to employees about the availability of public health insurance exchanges by March 1, 2013. The Department of Labor (DOL) expects that the timing for distribution of notices will be the late summer or fall of 2013, which will coordinate with the open enrollment period for exchanges. The DOL is considering providing model, generic language that could be used to satisfy the notice requirement.  

 

On Jan. 2, 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released long-awaited proposed regulations on ACA's employer shared responsibility provisions. Although the proposed regulations are not final, employers may rely on them for 2014.  Further guidance will be issued for compliance in 2015 and beyond. Among other things, the IRS' proposed regulations clarify:

  • How to determine if your entity is an applicable large employer
  • Rules that apply to companies that have common ownership or are otherwise related
  • That an applicable large employer must offer health coverage to both its full-time employees and their dependents to avoid the shared responsibility payment. The term "dependent" is defined as an employee's child who is under 26 years of age. For these purposes, "dependent" does not include any other individual, including the employee's spouse.
  • A full-time employee is an employee who was employed on average at least 30 hours of service per week. The rules treat 130 hours of service in a calendar month as the monthly equivalent of 30 hours of service per week.
  • The "Safe Harbor" provision using measuring periods for determining an employee's full-time status for ongoing variable and seasonal employees.

To learn more, click here to read the Health Care Reform Update, Winter 2013.

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Upcoming Events
Napa Valley Grapegrowers Vineyard Manager Round Table 
Preparing for Health Care Reform
Tuesday February 19, 2013 8:00 am -10:00 am
Silverado Farming Company 
390 Taylor Street, Napa 
This session will provide an overview of provisions of the Affordable Care Act, the new Pay or Play Rules, employers' 2013 responsibilities, and valuable information to help prepare for 2014. Jonathan Alexander, Compliance Counsel for Western Growers and Becky Barlow, of California Grower Foundation will key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and how it specifically applies to Vineyard Management Companies and Farm Labor Contractors. Round table discussion and Q&A to follow.  

February 26- March 1, 2013
Hyatt Regency Monterey ~ 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey
 
Hosted by Napa County Farm Bureau
March 28, 2013 8:00 am - 4:30
NV College, Upper Campus St. Helena
CGF members receive NCFB discount rate of $95
 
Napa County Farm Bureau Centennial Celebration
August 3, 2013
Robert Mondavi Winery 
Be well,

Becky Barlow and everyone at CGF
California Grower Foundation | [email protected] | http://calgrower.org
176 Main St, Suite C
St. Helena, CA 94574

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