It is time to dust off the employee handbook, review your policies and procedures, and make sure they comply with all the new laws, regulations, and interpretations that went into effect during 2025, became effective in late 2025, or January 1, 2026. Below, we have identified our “top 10” changes.  Please keep in mind there were hundreds of laws, regulations, and changes implemented at the local, state, and federal levels throughout 2025. This summary highlights selected changes most likely to impact California employers and is not intended to be exhaustive. So, if you need a handbook/policy review or have any questions, please call us! 1 – Minimum Wage Update: Updates happen every year.  It’s best to put a calendar reminder in November, to make sure your payroll is ready! Action: Review your payroll to ensure all employees are being paid the new minimum wage, send written notice of the wage change to affected hourly employees, and be sure your salari

A pioneer in innovation applied to wood for winemaking, Pronektar is expanding its range with the launch of PureVan, a new type of wood chip specially designed to offer a vanilla aroma of unprecedented intensity and purity. Designed as the first in a future series of “ingredient” chips, PureVan meets the expectations of winemakers looking for rich profiles, marked by sweetness and without excessive tannic structure. A strategic need... The PureVan project was born out of an initiative launched in 2017-2018, following an in-depth audit of the existing range and market benchmarking. This analysis highlighted the versatility of the offering, while revealing a significant opportunity for development around chips with more targeted and intensely characterized profiles, meeting specific oenological objectives. A research and development program was therefore launched with two essential conditions: richness and precision. Laboratory tests quickly showed that two par

One often overlooked aspect is the language in which mandatory posters are displayed. California, known for its diverse population, has specific requirements to ensure that all employees have access to workplace information. Federal Language Requirements for Workplace Posters The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recognizes the importance of communicating with employees in their native languages: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): Employers must provide notices in a language their workforce understands if a significant portion of employees are not literate in English. Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA): Posters must be available in languages commonly spoken by migrant workers who are not fluent in English. Executive Order 13496: Federal contractors and subcontractors must post notices in languages spoken by employees who are not proficient in English. Translations are available through the DOL upon request. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA): Employers mu

There is a lot of talk and a lot of questions right now about the new administration’s policies and statements on immigration. ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) is the Federal enforcement agency that focuses on immigrant status. They have recently been assisted by the FBI, DHS and other law enforcement agencies when they conduct “raids” to locate and detain suspected offenders. California employers face additional legal requirements due to state laws passed between 2017 and 2021. Employers must, for example, notify employees within 72 hours of receiving an audit notice. Employers are also prohibited from voluntarily allowing ICE to enter non-public areas unless the agent shows an appropriate warrant that authorizes access. Employers and employees are legitimately concerned about their rights and responsibilities. In this article, we will attempt to address some of these concerns. There are two different occasions when an employer might be required to interac

If you’re a winemaker, winery owner or executive, you know that crafting wine is anything but a straightforward manufacturing process. And small decisions can make and break profits. Winemaking isn’t a simple recipe; it’s an evolving blend of art, science, and constant hands-on adjustments. Every harvest, blend, and barrel is unique, meaning there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to production. That’s where traditional Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems fall short. While they’re great for tracking your general ledger, automating order management, and tracking case goods inventory, they don’t understand the nuances of wine production. In this article, we’ll get into why ERPs just aren’t a good fit for the cellar—and why integrating purpose-built winery solutions can make all the difference. Where ERPs Miss the Mark for Wineries No Vineyard Tracking or Insights Winemaking starts in the vineyard, but most ERP

What Are Labor Law Postings/Posters? Every employer should be familiar with labor law posting requirements. Postings are required Federal, State, or local regulations regarding employee rights under their employer. Various agencies issue labor law postings to ensure employees receive notice of their rights in the workplace or protocols they must follow. Some common topics in these postings are workplace safety, federal and state minimum wage laws, workplace conduct, and COVID-19 protocols. Depending on the industry or state your company is based in, new postings or the content of existing postings may be updated by their issuing department at any time and often at different intervals. Once their content changes or there is a new posting, employers must display them within specific grace periods to stay compliant. The Department of Labor (DOL) requires employers to display applicable postings at their place of business in an area frequented by all employees. Poster services condens

ST. HELENA, Calif., (August 2024) – ETS Laboratories is proud to announce a significant milestone in the company’s history: the 25th work anniversary of Dr. Eric Hervé, Research Scientist, Benoit Largeteau, Technical Operations Coordinator, and Ascencion Ayala, Sample Logistic and Client Support Specialist. This remarkable achievement reflects not only their unwavering dedication and exceptional contributions, but also the company’s commitment to nurturing and retaining top talent. Since joining ETS in 1997, Dr. Eric Hervé has been an integral part of the organization’s growth and success. Initially, Hervé joined the team to conduct a cork research program, but since then he has developed new analyses, conducted applied research programs, and investigated wine flavor and taint issues. Hervé’s innovative approach and relentless pursuit of excellence have played a crucial role in the success and growth of ETS Laboratories. Be

With the peak season of OND right around the corner, now is a great time to assess your sales team's skills before the final push of the selling year.  Of course, if your sales strategy isn’t already in place by Labor Day, your OND will likely fall short of your goals. But it’s not too late to take an assessment! The need to do more with less has never been more essential, and the waning days of summer provide an opportunity to assess your sales team’s skills.  Most adult beverage companies devote significant time and effort to ensuring the sales team’s product knowledge is as sharp as possible. But many stop there. They devote little, if any, of their training budgets to “technology for sales.” With this in mind, we would like to provide you with a list of the five tech skills every sales professional should have.  1) Sales pipeline management In the modern selling era, there are two primary pathways salespeople take. T

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) approved a long-awaited indoor heat-illness standard on June 20, 2024. Before going live, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) will have 30 days to approve or deny the standard. Cal/OSHA has requested that it go into effective immediately after OAL approval, so it could very well go live in a month. The standard, Section 3396, requires employers with indoor workspaces of 87 degrees Fahrenheit and above to reduce the room temperature and offer workers other cool-down options. For indoor workers who wear poor ventilating protective clothing or work near a heat source, employers will instead have to provide cool-down options when the inside temperature reaches 82 degrees Fahrenheit. What California Employers Will Need to Prepare While California has had an outdoor heat illness standard since 2006, indoor workers have been left unprotected. Cal/OSHA has been developing this rule since 2017 but has se

Afternoon Brief, April 29th

Labor Department Sets Sweeping New H-2A Foreign Guestworker Rule: The U.S. Department of Labor has adopted a new rule it said will protect foreign seasonal farmworkers from being abused, imposing sweeping regulations the head of an agricultural employers association called "offensive."...