JULY 2017 – Examining your wage practices

By Jennifer Brown Shaw Esq. CalChamber

Wage and hour compensation issues remain some of the most active enforcement areas in employment law. These issues represent substantial lost wages for employees and lost tax revenues for government.

Self-audits can serve as a key tool to help employers avoid wage-and-hour liability in the workplace, especially given the current climate of increased enforcement and scrutiny. Employers must ensure their records and practices are compliant, or they face significant legal risk.

Enforcement agencies in California have stepped up efforts to target employers who perpetrate “Wage theft”. Wage theft is a phrase used to refer to infractions of the California Labor C ode involving the payment of wages to workers. Wage theft might refer to employers who fail to pay for all hours worked, fail to pay nonexempt employees overtime, fail to pay minimum wage or fail to properly classify workers as employees and report them to various state and federal agencies.

Failure to comply with state wage-and-hour practices may result in heavy fines, civil or criminal penalties and class-action suits.

In light of increased enforcement and continuing prevalence of class-action lawsuits in California employers should take steps to evaluate their practices and ensure compliance with the law.

Why self-audit? The purpose of a self-audit is to identify procedures and practices that violate the law. Given the complexity of the laws involved, audits invariably reveal some compliance issues. By taking a proactive approach, employers retain control over correcting the issues identified by an audit and are better prepared to defend themselves if the government or a plaintiff’s attorney comes a calling.

A simple review includes employee classification; meal and rest periods; timekeeping and pay practices; calculation of the “regular rate of pay” and related overtime issues; off-the-clock work; pay equality between men and women performing similar work; child labor laws; record keeping and wage statement compliance; and classification of workers as in independent contractors.

Committing your organization to a wage-hour self-audit is a big decision. Performing the audit and implementing self-corrective measures based on the results can be painstaking and expensive. In the long run such efforts can deliver big returns.

 

JULY 2017 – Member Profile – Senza Asthetic Medicine

Senza Asthetic Medicine, look and feel your best

Dr. Rasi received his MD from Loma Linda University School of Medicine where he went on to complete two years of surgical training before devoting his practice to cosmetic laser surgery. In 1999, he co-founded Senza Medical Corporation with the goal of establishing a center of excellence in cosmetic laser surgery. As the practice has grown, Dr. Rasi has added numerous new treatments and technologies such as laser assisted liposuction (Smartlipo), hair transplant surgery and several facial resurfacing lasers. As a cosmetic laser surgeon, he is constantly striving to provide the Inland Empire with the latest in aesthetic treatments by researching and incorporating new equipment, attending educational conferences and assisting in the development of new technology.

Senza Asthetic Medicine is located at 226 Nordina Ave. in Redlands. To learn more about the procedures, techniques and programs available call the office at 793-3563 or log onto www.senzamedical.com

JULY 2017 – Member Profile – Sugarbee Café & Bake Shop

 

Sugarbee Café & Bake Shop where sweet dreams come true

Sugarbee Cafe & Bake Shop began with two women who had a similar dream.  Co-owners Candace Gonzalez and Desy Albrecht met 10 years ago at the aerospace company where they both worked. While happy with their jobs, both women had secret talents.  Desy was a graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and Candace had a successful part-time custom cake business.  The women were both busy balancing work and children, but during lunch breaks, would talk about their passions for food and cake design and their dreams of one day owning a cafe and bakery.  As time passed and the children grew older, the timing felt right for the women to make their dreams a reality. That reality became Sugarbee Cafe & Bake Shop located in downtown Redlands at 5 East Citrus, Suite 105,

Serving both breakfast and lunch Sugarbee Café & Bake Shop will treat your taste buds with classic delights to extraordinary combinations. The aroma of baked goods will draw you into the shop where magic happens with cakes becoming works of art.

Featured on The Food Network’s “Cake Wars” and TLC’s “Outrageous Kids Parties” Sugarbee Café & Bake Shop has become not only a local sensation but is on the “must try” list nationally.

Ordering your very own custom cake is made simple …. log onto www. Sugarbeecafe.com and fill out the online order phone. Better yet stop in and treat yourself to a sweet treat while discussing design with the cake artist Candace, or you can call the shop at 335-3059.

Treat your sweet tooth, stop by for lunch, pop in for a quick mid-day snack or dazzle you party guests with a Sugarbee original cake.

 

JUNE 2017 – Redlands Chamber and Redlands Hotel Council help fund technology

Redlands Chamber of Commerce & Redlands Hotel Council fund technology that will help Redlands’ businesses protect their assets

By Lt. Travis Martinez, Redlands PD

 

Over the last five years, the Redlands Police Department (RPD) has been proactive in helping businesses protect their assets from both internal and external theft by using electronic stakeouts . Deploying specialized GPS technology that activates based on motion and immediately alerts officers on their smartphones enabling real-time tracking, RPD has been partnering with any willing business that has been experiencing crime.  Whether it be armed robbery, commercial burglary, organized retail theft, or simply protecting customers’ vehicles in the parking lot from vehicle burglary, RPD and Redlands’ businesses have discovered a strategy that turns the tables on would-be thieves.  With 265 arrests to date credited to the technology, the proactive strategy of setting traps that would aid in the apprehension of burglars and robbers has expanded to police departments and communities nationwide.  And now, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce and the Redlands Hotel Council have become two of the first business organizations to fund multiple devices for their local police department to use in protecting local business interests.

The year 2016 led to 66 arrests at RPD using electronic stakeouts including the following:

  • A local pharmacy was being repeatedly targeted by thieves who would break the windows of the business during nighttime commercial burglaries. The thieves would immediately collect all of the bottles of promethazine syrup and OxyContin. Community policing officers from RPD teamed up with the pharmacist, embedded a GPS tracking device in a promethazine bottle, and placed it on the shelf in the pharmacy. When four gangsters from Los Angeles hit the pharmacy in July, they only made it a mile away before they were arrested by authorities.
  • Nighttime burglars were targeting high-priced automotive technology scanners at a franchise auto parts store. RPD worked with the store manager and placed one of the GPS trackers in a scanner package that was then displayed behind the cash register counter.   When RPD responded to an alarm at the business caused by a broken window, officers discovered the suspects had already fled the scene, taking with them the GPS laced scanner package. Within minutes, RPD officers had the suspects stopped.
  • A convenience store prone to robberies allowed RPD to install a GPS chip in a packet of money that was then placed in the business’ cash register.   When the clerk of the business was robbed at knifepoint, she simply put all of the cash from the register into a bag and handed it over to the robber. The GPS device activated and helped authorities track the suspect as he fled the business on foot.   Using the tracking data, police were able to identify and apprehend the suspect. Just recently, he pled guilty to armed robbery and received a four year state prison sentence.

Seeing the value in how electronic stakeouts can help protect businesses and ease the concern of business owners, the Redlands Chamber of Commerce and Redlands Hotel Council raised $5,600 to be used to fund six GPS devices and two years’ worth of cell phone service for the devices. At a cost of only $1.82 per day per device the first year and only $.59 a day every following year, the strategy has proven to be a very effective yet very affordable way for businesses to help their local police departments combat crime and protect their assets.

To learn more about how GPS technology can be used to fight crime, please contact Lt. Travis Martinez at tmartinez@redlandspolice.org. Lt. Travis Martinez currently heads the Investigations and Special Operations Bureau of the Redlands Police Department.

 

 

JUNE 2017 – Member Profile – Jericho Systems Inc.

Experience the “Jericho difference” from concept to construction

Jericho Systems is a full-service environmental consulting firm providing services from project conception to construction since 2012. As a small California corporation, we are certified as a Small Business by the Metropolitan Water District of California, as a Woman-Owned Business by the California Public Utilities Commission and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise by Caltrans.

Jericho’s professionals are experts in planning, biology, ecology, and regulatory permitting, with specialties in California’s various habitats and regulatory climate. We can help any developer through the entitlement process from project concept to construction, including management of sensitive biological resources.

The in-house staff has decades of experience in preparing environmental documents and permits within the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA(, federal and State endangered species acts such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the California Department of Fish and Game Code (FGC), and the Clean Water Act (CWA).

Maintaining good relationships with State and Federal resource agencies and decades of experience to assist clients from project conception to construction, they have a proven track record with all aspects of small and large projects for public and private clients.

Jericho Systems Inc. is located at 47 N. First Street, Suite 1, call for more information at 307-5633 or long onto www.jericho-systems.com

 

JUNE 2017 – President’s article by Todd Underwood

My wife, Donna and I really enjoyed the beautiful Memorial Day ceremony at the Hillside Cemetery this year. The American Legion does a wonderful job of putting on the program.  It was a privilege to honor the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.

The Mayor’s State of the City luncheon will be June 9th at the University of Redlands.  This event always sells out, so be sure to get your tickets soon.   It’s always exciting to hear what’s going on in the City.  And this year Mayor Foster will have details on the development plans for the Redlands Mall something we have all looked forward to for years.

As the school year winds down, I wanted to express how proud we all are of our 2017 graduates from Redlands’ fine schools.  To the future leaders of Redlands and beyond, best wishes as you move to the next chapter in your lives.

JUNE 2017 – How to make the most out of your chamber membership

To grow your business you need to get the word out about whom you are and what you do.  The Chamber of Commerce not only provides a platform for you to do that, but your fellow Chamber members join your team in building your business profile in the community.  Chamber events provide you with an active role in community happenings and it is a great place to build rapport with fellow business men and women in and around St Joseph.

It’s up to you to get the most out of your Chamber membership. 

Networking Opportunities

Your participation in Chamber events allows you the chance to meet many other like-minded business people in the community and build the sorts of relationships that can be mutually beneficial.

Each new business connection actually opens the door to a whole new group of potential business contacts and partnerships. This is the power of networking. A single connection extends your reach to everyone around that single point.

The Chamber presents events through-out the year to give you multiple opportunities to make those important connections and many of the events are free of charge.  


Making Connections
Membership allows you to make innumerable personal connections but it also places you in an important database.  Community members and visitors use the website to find specific service and products, yours will be the one they find first.

You can patronize Chamber businesses with confidence because you know them personally along with their commitment to excellence and community involvement.  The great thing is that your fellow Chamber members know all the same things about you.

Getting and Giving Referrals
Recommending businesses highlights another benefit to be gained from your Chamber membership – referrals.  Each time you visit a member’s place of business, let them know that you are prepared to refer others to them.  Many Chamber members choose only to work with other members of the Chamber to show solidarity in support of the development of the community. Part of Chamber dues go to economic development efforts to help bring new businesses to town and help current businesses expand. This helps grow the number of people using local businesses. By being a Chamber member, you support those efforts.

The Chamber business directory and office will only refer members.  When people move to town and go to the Chamber for business referrals, you will be on the list of providers mentioned.  Again, this provides you with an exponential reach.

A Great Way to Advertise
Making personal connections and gaining respected referrals are critical in growing your business base, but most businesses also need to advertise.  Advertising is expensive.  But your Chamber membership offers you a number of outlets for pushing out promotions.  You can become a website sponsor which will give you prominence on Chamber web pages.  You can become a featured sponsor of Rise ‘n Shine Redlands.  Members can also choose to sponsor events, which give them the opportunity to advertise in association with positive civic efforts.  Some Chamber advertising avenues cost, but some are free. Either way, membership allows you to reach a wide and targeted audience through precision distribution.

The Chamber supports members by celebrating landmark events in business like grand openings and business expansions.  Since the Chamber is there to promote St Redlands economic growth, members are invited to share in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for all new and growing businesses in town.

Your Chamber of Commerce membership is more valuable than you realize.  It helps you keep your finger on the pulse of business trends and opportunities, but it does so much more than that.  Membership means you will be involved with any number of forums for meeting new business partners and potential business customers.  Fun events, professional development events and preferential advertising and referrals are just some of the benefits you should be collecting from your membership.

 

JUNE 2017 – NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS – MAY 2017

ACCOUNTING 4 COMPUTERS &
PRO-TAX SOLUTIONS, INC.
Kendra Salot
1 East Redlands Blvd
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 915-1040
www.a4cpt.com

AEGIS TREATMENT CENTERS
Vincente Mozell
1889 W. Redlands Blvd
Redlands, CA 92373|
Phone: 818-206-0360

DYNAMIC REDLANDS, LLC
Hardy Strozier
110 No. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 302
Corona, CA 92882
Phone: 951-444-5600

GENYSYS
Charles Singleton
18340 Yorba Linda Blvd, Suite 107-315
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Phone: 818-568-9127
www.thegenysysgroup.com

NEW AMERICAN FUNDING REDLANDS
Chris Ledwidge
1473 Ford Street, Suite 101
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  949-267-2138
www.newamericanfunding.com

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES
Annamarie Megrdichian
3639 River Plaza Drive #502
Riverside, CA 92506
Phone: 951-787-1885
www.nothingbundtcakes.com

PRIME CARE OF REDLANDS
Shauna Copeland
1467 Ford Street, Suite 103
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  792-5375
www.primecare.com

RESTORE KITCHEN ON STATE
Al Barilla
615 W. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 307-0026
www.restorekitchen.com

STATE STREET DENTAL
Courtney Mee
211 E. State Street|
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 748-7292
www.statestreetdentist.com

STATE STREET LIQUOR
Shiva Bakshi
619 W. State Street
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 583-1695
www.instagram.com/statestreetliquor/

THE BLACK ORCHID
Pattie Rocha
430 E. Redlands Blvd.
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  307-0200
www.theblackorchiddesign.com

JUNE 2017 – Chamber Members Renewing May 2017

BRONCS TOWING INC
Mike and K. G. Ardabili
1083 W. Park Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 307-0944

CASP (CERTIFIED ACCESS SPECIALIST)
Dan Kaiser
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 747-5296
www.caspservices.com

CHILD CARE RESOURCE CENTER
Megan Sack
1111 E. Mill Street, Suite 100
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 890-0018
www.ccrcca.org

CALIBER COLLISION
Kenny Barker
450 Nevada
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-3442
www.calibercollision.com

COCO’S BAKERY
Isaac Soto
1140 W. Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-3116
Redlands, CA 92373
www.cocosbakery.com

CRAIG & SONS TERMITE & PEST CONTROL, INC.
Christine Cornejo
481 Business Center Court
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 335-1486
www.craigandsons.com

CST ORGANIC RECYCLING
Scot Smith
1746 Sessums Drive, Suite 120
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 794-3476

DAN CARLONE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Dan Carlone
234 North “D” Street
San Bernardino, CA 92401
Phone: 386-1828
www.dancarloneconstructioninc.com

DOCUMEDIA GROUP
Jim Nolin
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  792-9595
www.documediagroup.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Dr. J. T. Greenleaf
1 East Olive
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-2118
www.redlandsfirstchurch.org

FLANIGAN CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Dan Flanigan
745 E. Stuart
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 792-6740
www.flaniganconstruction.com

HCH CONSTRUCTION
Frances Carter
404 E. Stuart Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 793-3022

HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Kim Hicken
461 Tennessee Street, Suite O
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 370-0343
www.homeinstead.com/323

INLAND EMPIRE UNITED WAY
Gregory Bradbard
9644 Hermosa Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
Phone: 980-2857
www.ieuw.org

MARY KAY COSMETICS
Laurie Shumate
Redlands, CA  29373
Phone:  713-875-5334
www.marykay.com/laurieshumate

MONTESSORI IN REDLANDS
Lisa Oliver
1890 Orange Avenue
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  793-6989
www.montessoriinredlands.org

NEW DAY SOLAR
Mary Carlson
23811 Washington Avenue, Suite C110 #224
Murrieta, CA 92562
Phone: 855-444-6329
www.newdaysolar.com

PAULSON ORTHODONTICS
Marcus Paulson, DDS MS
219 Cajon Street
Redlands, CA 92373|
Phone: 793-2603
www.hportho.com

PENCE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Rick Pence
P. O. Box 7550
Redlands, CA 92375
Phone: 335-0424
www.penceconstruction.com

RB MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Randy Brown
700 E. Redlands Blvd, Suite E-347
Redlands, CA  92373
Phone:  335-1941
www.rbmarking.com

REDLANDS AUTO ELECTRIC
Jim Cooper
349 No. Eureka Street
Redlands, CA  92374
Phone:  792-4776
www.redlandsautoelectric.net

SPLASH KINGDOM & BIG AIR TRAMPOLINE
Lianne Leiss
1101 No. California Street
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 335-7275
www.spashkingdom.com

SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER
Paul Lay
101 E. Redlands Blvd, Suite 140
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 792-9669|
www.sylvanlearning.com

STATE FARM INSURANCE
Bill Solberg
401 Brookside Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone:  792-2188
www.statefarminsurance.com

TOTALLY KIDS
Doug Padgett
1720 Mountain View Avenue
Loma Linda, CA   92354
Phone: 796-6915
www.totallykids.com

TOM BELL CHEVROLET
Tom Bell
800 Alabama
Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: 793-2681
www.tombellchevy.com

W. I. T. WINDOWS & DOORS
Mike De Does
402 W. Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92374
Phone: 792-6587
www.witwindowsanddoors.com

 

MAY 2017 – You are the BOSS of your own business

Redlands Fire Department needs your help to keep all our business’ safe.  The BOSS (Building Occupant Safety Survey) was developed to help small business’ through a self-inspection program that would keep their inspection cost down.  It is important to note that the BOSS program is only available for small, light hazard, commercial occupancies that do not normally have a high occupant load.  Light hazard occupancies are locations where there is a relatively low amount of combustible materials within the occupied space, including furnishings, decorations, and other contents.  These occupancies may include:  small businesses or professional offices, small retail shops, and small personal service shops such as barber shops, beauty shops, or nail salons.

The “BOSS” Program is intended to be an educational program for small businesses and building owners.   It equips them with critical knowledge they need to keep their employees, customers, and property fire safe by adhering to the requirements of the California Fire Code.  Educational materials combined with a fire safety survey checklist, allows the business owner and their employees to be familiar with the safety inspection process from start to finish.  The “BOSS” checklist will be mailed every other year depending on address to verify that hazards do not exist within your business or building.  If a business fits into this category, it may be eligible to conduct its own fire safety survey.  Occupants may elect to complete the safety surveys more often; however, a reminder will be e-mailed and mailed to qualifying businesses on a biennial (every other yearly) basis.

It is very easy, only need to:

  1. When the “BOSS” form comes in the mail, carefully scrutinize their business for the items listed on the fire safety survey.
  2. Complete and sign the fire safety survey form.
  3. Mail the completed survey in the enclosed self-addressed envelope to the Redlands Fire Department along with a check for only $22.00.

Penni Overstreet-Murphy, Fire Marshal

Redlands Fire Department

909-798-7601 (work)