We Hope To See You Again Next Year! Scroll down to see the summary of topics discussed as well as find helpful links that will help you put these thoughts into action at your cemetery. |
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Current Issues Facing Cemeteries Bereavement Law Requirements: Trustees need to be aware of and comply with recent changes in bereavement laws. Sick Leave Policies: Employees can now use their sick leave without needing to provide a doctor's note. It was highlighted that it is not acceptable to remove holiday pay if a sick day is taken in conjunction with a holiday.
“In general terms, starting on January 1, 2024, the law requires employers to provide and allow employees to use at least 40 hours or five days of paid sick leave per year. Before January 1, 2024, an employer could limit an employee’s use to 24 hours or three days during a year.” - DIR Drug Screening: It is becoming an increasingly indefensible position in CA to conduct drug screening as a basis for employment, especially if the drug you are screening for is recreationally legal in the state. Review your screening policy with counsel to ensure compliance. Also noted, the importance of monitoring employees while on the clock for impairment of any kind.
Compliance with the Brown Act: Adherence to Agenda: Trustees must not discuss or vote on matters that are not listed on the agenda. Open Session Voting: Any votes on salary or financial issues must occur in an open session, not in closed sessions. Public Participation: The public, including employees, have the right to speak on items both on and off the agenda. The Board can decide whether comments on agenda items should occur at the beginning of the meeting or when the item is discussed. If hearing about items not represented on the agenda, the trustees will need to add it to the agenda for the next meeting if they would like to discuss.
Trustees' Responsibilities: Avoid Forming Public Committees: Trustees should not delegate their responsibilities, such as financial oversight and making improvement recommendations, to committees formed from the public. These duties should be handled by the trustees themselves.
These points emphasize the importance of transparency, adherence to legal requirements, and maintaining direct oversight and accountability by the trustees. |
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Injury Illness Prevention Plan Every California employer must establish, implement and maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention (IIP) Program and a copy must be maintained at each worksite or at a central worksite if the employer has non-fixed worksites. | | |
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Workplace Violence Prevention Plan All California employers must identify and correct workplace violence hazards in a timely manner and provide effective training to their employees to prevent injuries from occurring as a result of their employment. | | |
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Defensive Driving:1 HR Training In following to the discussion of the nature and frequency of automobile related losses at cemeteries, below is the link for the full 1 hour training from GSRMA | | |
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Managing Unhoused Populations It is no secret to the managers of Public Cemeteries in California that unhoused peoples can present a problem for normal cemetery operations. It's a big topic to say the least, an excellent starting place is to contact your County's Department of Social Services to understand your specific County's response options or recommendations. | | |
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Fire Preparedness We had excellent presentations from the Grass Valley Fire Department about topics like defensible space, what to do in an emergency, how to operate a fire extinguisher and the risks inherent in battery charging bays. Use the link below to refresh your understanding of what you can do BEFORE a fire breaks out to make sure you're prepared. | | |
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