Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce METRO E-NewsBacktotheTop
METRO E-News, December 2012
Table of Contents
Chamber Holiday Hours
Coming Together for the Holidays Mixer - Dec. 20
Quarterly Labor Law Forum - Jan. 17
2013 Beautiful Bakersfield Nominations
Order Your 2013 Required Notices Poster
2013 Annual Dinner and Board Installation - Jan. 24
Reminder: Commission Agreements Deadline Looming
2013 Mileage Reimbursement Rates
Member News
METRO E-News Sponsor

 

Chamber Holiday Hours

Please note, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce will be closed on Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

Providing Networking Opportunities

Providing Business Education Opportunities

2013 will bring many labor law changes, is your business on the right side of the law?

  

Dan Klingenberger

Each new year brings a host of new labor laws and regulations, most business owners and managers don't have the time and resources to keep track. Don't expose your business to the liability of noncompliance, join the Chamber for our Quarterly Labor and Employment Law Update Forum. Attorney Dan Klingenberger of Dowling Aaron Incorporated will let you know what changes in the labor code are in store for the year ahead and be available to answer your questions about labor law and human resources.

 

Please join us on Thursday, Jan. 17 with registration and refreshments at 7:30 a.m. and program from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. There is no cost for Chamber Members in good standing. Non-members are also welcome to attend for a registration fee of $40.

 

Register Online 

Promoting Our Community

2013 Beautiful Bakersfield

Do you know someone from our community who has worked to enhance or promote a desirable quality of life in Bakersfield?

Nominate them for a Beautiful Bakersfield Award

 

Recognizing achievements completed during the 2012 calendar year and honoring the businesses, organizations and people that contribute to our quality of life in our community, nominations are in 14 categories. 

 

Names of award recipients will be announced at the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards Banquet and television broadcast on June 1, 2013.

 

Nomination deadline is January 18, 2013.

 

Download a nomination form below or call (661) 327-4421 for more information.
  
Download Nomination Form

Award Sponsors

Aera Energy LLC, ARRC Technology, Bakersfield Association of REALTORS�, Chevron,
DoubleTree by Hilton, Golden Empire McDonald's Operators, Interim HealthCare, 
Law Offices of Young Wooldridge LLP, Raymond's Trophy & Awards, RJ's Bar & Grill, 
Rosewood Retirement Community, Valley Clean Air Now, Valley Republic Bank, 
Vascular and Leg Center, Wells Fargo Bank

Representing the Interests of Business with Government

Is your workplace compliant? 

Order your 2013 Californian and Federal Employment Notices posters

 

2013 California and Federal Employment Notices PosterAll California employers, regardless of size, are required by law to post a current employment poster in a conspicuous place in the workplace where all employees and applicants can see it. You may need to order several to ensure that your business, branches, and satellite offices are displaying the poster according to the law.


California law is very strict with regard to posting the California Employment Poster and required notices. Failure to comply may result in a penalty of up to $17,000.  

 

Bakersfield Chamber's all-in-one poster contains the 16 required state and federal employment notices that all California employers must post, as well as mandatory updates for 2013.


Taking care of your labor force and staying in compliance with employment law are two significant ways in which you can make your business a success. The need for compliance should not be underestimated, whether you're a large corporation or a small business.


Order your 2013 California and Federal Employment Notices Poster online or call (661) 327-4421.

Order Online

Building a Strong Economy

Promoting Our Community

Reminder: Commission Agreements Deadline Looming 

 

The California Chamber of Commerce is reminding employers that all commission agreements must be put in writing by January 1, 2013.

 

By that time, any employee hired to perform work for commissions in California must receive a written contract that includes the method for calculating and paying the commissions.

 

Passed in 2011, this mandate of AB 1396 applies to employers located inside and outside California. It amended Labor Code Section 2751, which previously applied only to employers with no fixed California location. In 2012, the law was further clarified with respect to what types of plans are excluded from the written commission agreement requirement.

 

The new law appears simple and straightforward. However, a number of potential pitfalls within the law could result in wage-and-hour claims filed against employers.

 

CalChamber's white paper "Don't Forget: Commission Agreements Deadline" covers the following critical information:

  • What is a "Commission?"; 
  • Recordkeeping and Procedures for Compliance; 
  • Employer Pitfalls; 
  • Best Practices.

Register to download a free white paper from CalChamber to learn more about requirements for employers.

Promoting Our Community

IRS Announces 2013 Mileage Reimbursement Rates

 

The Internal Revenue Service recently issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

 

The rates take effect on January 1, 2013. According to the IRS, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 56.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
  • 24 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes;
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

The rates for business miles driven and for medical and moving purposes during 2013 increase 1 cent from the 2012 rate. A taxpayer always has the option of calculating the actual costs of using his/her vehicle rather than using the standard mileage rates, the IRS said in its statement.

 

Under California Labor Code Section 2802, employers must fully reimburse employees for all expenses actually and necessarily incurred. Many employers typically choose to use the IRS mileage reimbursement rate, but its use is optional.

 

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement has stated that using the IRS mileage rate will generally satisfy an employer's obligation to reimburse for business-related vehicle expenses, absent evidence to the contrary. If an employee can show that the chosen mileage reimbursement rate, even the IRS rate, does not cover all actual expenses the employee has incurred, however, the employer must pay the difference.

 

Business vehicle expenses do not include only gasoline, but also wear and tear (depreciation), repairs, oil, insurance and other costs. Federal requirements for a taxpayer to use a standard mileage rate to calculate the amount of a deductible business, moving, medical or charitable expense are listed in Rev. Proc. 2010-51.

 

Back to the Top

Promoting Our Community

Member News

Member News 

News from and about your fellow Chamber Members

 

The American Red Cross - Central Valley Region, the region including the Kern Chapter, has announced they have deployed the first volunteer from the Central Valley to support the tragic school shootings in Newtown, CT. Debby Dailey, RN deployed on Dec. 15 from Fresno, and has been asked to lead the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services Team. These services will provide mental health screening and assessment, crisis intervention and assessments, and emotional care and support. We can all be proud of our Central Valley Red Cross Volunteers who stand ready to serve those in need at home or across the nation.  

 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County is pleased to announce that they have been selected as an official partner of Payless Gives™ Shoes 4 Kids, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource. The Boys & Girls Club is among many charitable agencies representing all 50 states in the United States, as well as Canada, Puerto Rico and 11 Latin American countries that will help distribute more than $1.4 million worth of free shoes to children. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Kern County will be distributing merchandise certificates for children's shoes to their Club members. 

 

The Bakersfield Californian has won first place in the business/professional organization category in Keep America Beautiful's National Awards for its participation in the "Litter: It's Beneath Us" campaign to clean up the city. The award will officially be bestowed at a ceremony Jan. 29 at Keep America Beautiful's national conference in Washington, D.C.

 

M.A.R.E. Riding Center invites you to join them for The Magical Forest on Thursday, Dec. 20 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at B.A.R.C., 2240 South Union Ave. Proceeds on this date will be shared with M.A.R.E. for More information, call (661) 589-1877.