Sacramento, CA – Changes to Mercury Thermostat Collection Act of 2021 Since the inception of the 2008 Act, regulators have become increasingly concerned the collection of thermostats has been lackluster. Furthermore, they believe outreach by the thermostat industry has failed to properly inform appropriate entities that collection is available, and many consumers and retailers alike are unaware of the program. In addition, there has never been any dedicated funding for DTSC’s oversight and enforcement of the 2008 Act, which has led to lax oversight of the thermostat industry’s performance. So, Assemblymember Bill Quirk carried AB 707 in 2021, which made several changes to the 2008 Act. Stakeholders discovered several technical issues that needed to be addressed. AB 732 makes changes, collectively requested by stakeholders, to the Act to address these technical issues. Significantly, AB 732 requires each manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, to provide collection bins for out-of-service mercury-added thermostats to a thermostat wholesaler in the state by eliminating the requirement that the wholesaler request a collection bin. AB 732 is waiting for action by Governor Newsom, who has until September 30 to sign or veto bills sent to him last month.
NLRB Reverses Precedent on Employer Dress Codes and Joint Employer Standard Consistent with its pro-union agenda, the National Labor Relations Board recently reversed the precedent established under the prior administration for employer dress codes and the joint employer standard. Specifically, on August 29, 2022, the Board held that an employer’s dress code policies preventing employees from wearing pro-union apparel were unlawful. Furthering its agenda, on September 6, 2022, the Board released a new proposed joint employer standard, which would roll back the standard established under the prior administration, making it much easier for the NLRB to deem companies joint employers. Story