NEwsletter: the year of the ram

3-Day Sick Leave Law
Effective July 1, 2015, all employees (including full time, part time and temporary) in California will enjoy 3-Day Paid Sick Leave. All Employers are required to post a notice in the office and give individual notices to employees starting 1/1/2015. We provide free 2015 posters and individual notice samples to our clients.

Highlights:

• 1 hour sick leave for every 30 hours worked
• Must have worked for 90 days before taking the leave
• Leave: worked at least 30 days or 24 hours in 2015
• Accrue up to 6 days or 48 hours
• Unused sick pay is not paid
• If rehired within 12 months, employees can have the unused sick pay reinstated

Useful links: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Paid_Sick_Leave.htm

DLSE- Division of Labor Standards Enforcement provides a detailed list of Questions and Answers for employers and employees to learn more about the new law.

---

CoveredCalifornia - ObamaCare

You still have time to sign up for ObamaCare (from now to April 30) if you are required to pay for the Individual Shared Responsibility Payment (the penalty for not buying health insurance in 2014). The penalty will double for 2015. Act now to avoid the penalty.

If you have filed your taxes, you will be familiar with the IRS forms 1095 (A, B, or C), form 8962, or form 8965. If not, then please be prepared with these forms when you file your 2014 tax return. The IRS is using these forms to track your health insurance tax credit and share responsibility. 

If you went without coverage for less than 3 consecutive months during the year you may qualify for the short coverage gap exemption and will not have to make a payment for those months. There are more exceptions that you may claim to avoid the payments. Call us to find out more.

---

Disclaimer:
The materials contained in this Newsletter are strictly for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Please consult your attorneys or legal advisers for proper interpretation and enforcement of the law.