California overtime rules for agricultural employees will change significantly now that AB 1066 has become law. Today, Governor Brown signed the controversial bill that eliminates the agricultural exemption from the standard overtime provisions and other wage and hour standards. The new law will phase-in the introduction of stricter overtime standards for employees covered by Wage Order 14. Historically, agricultural workers could work 10 hours per day and 60 hours per week before overtime pay was required.

The new requirement – which can be found at Labor Code section 860 – tightens the overtime standard over a period of three (3) years to obtain the eight (8) hour workday and 40 hour workweek required for other industries. The phase-in period for large employers begins in 2019 and will be completed January 1, 2022, at which time the 8/40 standard will apply, along with double-time after 12 hours per day. Employers with 25 or fewer employees will not have to begin the phase-in process until 2022 and will not see the full effect of the law until January 1, 2025.

Other significant changes include a required day of rest per Labor Code sections 551 & 552 and providing first and second meal periods as required by Labor Code section 512. These changes go into effect January 1, 2017 without a phase-in process.

This and other newly enacted laws will be discussed during SHLC’s October 4th Worthy Cause® Webinar: California Employment Legislation and New Laws in 2017. For more information or to register for the webinar, click here: https://suttonhague.com/events/?event_id1=99.