The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) is beefing up its training and procedures after a California State Auditor Report concluded that a DIR official and supervisor failed to adequately monitor time reporting of four employees in violation of state regulations and DIR policies. According to the report, the state auditor received an allegation that one …
During his confirmation hearing yesterday, Marty Morgenstern, Governor Jerry Brown’s choice to be Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, told California Senators that he thinks the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) could benefit from some slimming down. Morgenstern testified on a number of topics before the Senate Rules Committee including a re-organization within …
One of the most significant pieces of occupational safety and health legislation in recent years is on its way to the governor. After months of negotiations with labor, employers removed their opposition to AB 2774, authored by Sandre Swanson (D-Oakland), a strong indication that the governor will sign it. Negotiations were also successful thanks to …
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) is investigating a workplace death reported Aug. 13 to state Department of Parks and Recreation from hantavirus. The worker was a park aide at Bodie State Park in Bridgeport. Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) press officer Krisann Chasarik says the man worked at the front desk of a …
After an outcry from its staff, the Department of Industrial Relations has revised its approach to digging into Cal/OSHA inspectors’ outside teaching activities, limiting the scope of the inquiry and extending the deadline to respond until the end of the month. Reaction to the original audit has been resoundingly negative, likely leading to the March …
Alleged “double dipping” by a former Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) employee has led to a far-ranging – and some say unconstitutional – audit of all DOSH staff and their outside activities. The audit, conducted by the Department of Industrial Relations Legal Unit, is prompting howls of protest from inspectors, with at least …
Cal/OSHA inspectors are loudly protesting a Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) probe into their outside activities that they say is unnecessarily intrusive and violates their privacy. Unions representing Division of Occupational Safety and Health personnel have demanded that DIR scale back the audit, which was triggered after an inspector was alleged to have improperly participated …
Alameda County Superior Judge Frank Roesch yesterday ordered the Schwarzenegger administration to end furloughs for all state workers who are paid from non-general fund accounts. The order applies to all employees regardless of bargaining unit or union affiliation in nearly 70 “special fund” agencies statewide, including several that are part of the Department of Industrial …