Page 2 January 5, 2017 New Year Changes from front page The state’s minimum wage and vehicle registration fees both are going up on January 1. average American’s Social Security payment is $1,341 per month. Affecting Your Ride While some people will be making more in 2017, California drivers will be paying $10 more in vehicle registration fees in the new year. The Department of Motor Vehicles also received the okday to collect $5 more to renew, transfer or duplicate a personalized license plate, and $10 more for a newly issued one. The state is requiring the ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, to conduct more thorough background checks on its drivers starting Sunday. While the enhanced passenger protection for riders won’t be in place before New Year’s Eve, every ridesharing business in the state will face penalties of up to $5,000 for hiring or contracting with drivers who are registered sex offenders or have been convicted of committing dangerous crimes--including assault and battery, domestic violence or driving under the influence--within the past seven years. Taxi services are not covered by the stricter background checks. Ridesharing is a popular option for people who don’t want to drive themselves and need to get somewhere quickly. While Uber is the name most people know, Lyft is the other big player in this alt-driving industry. Passengers arrange for rides on short distance using a smartphone app to hail a driver to a pickup location. The ridesharing companies have insisted they are a ridematching service--not a transportation company to shield themselves from liability in case of a crash or act of violence. California lawmakers have made it clear through this new law that the responsibility for protecting passengers lies with Uber and Lyft even if their drivers are classified as independent contractors. Attacks on passengers by drivers are infrequent, and everyone seems to agree the majority of drivers are competent and professional. This new bill aims to keep it that way. A few other driving-related changes in the law that South Bay residents should know about going into the new year include more restrictions on cellphones. No longer can drivers hold their cellphones while driving for any reason other than to call 911. The new restrictions also include tablets, laptops and any wireless device. This loopholeclosing law was detailed in the Herald in a December 8 article titled “The Hands-Free Device Every Driver Needs.” Drivers are prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or a wireless electronic communications device unless it’s mounted on the windshield, the dashboard or the center console without hindering the driver’s view of the road. A driver may only touch his phone or other device to open or close an app with a swipe of a finger or a touch of a button. GPS devices installed in car are exempt from the tough new hands-free cell phone law for drivers, which targets a national epidemic of distracted driving. Highway deaths and injuries are rising again after a 50-year decline, and cell phones are a big part of the reason why. Child safety seats: A new requirement says that children 2 and under must be strapped in a rear-facing child seat unless the child weighs 40 pounds or more or is 39 inches taller or more. Accident reports: A driver involved in a motor-vehicle collision must report the crash to the DMV if the damage to property is $1,000. Fewer minor collisions and fender benders will need to be reported under the financial limit, which currently is $750. Vehicle safety recalls: A car dealer or car rental company cannot loan or rent any vehicle that is under a manufacturer’s recall. Companies have 48 hours after receiving a recall notice to pull the car from their fleets. The one exception is for licensed dealers or rental companies with fleets of 34 or fewer loaner or rental vehicles. The DMV can suspend or revoke a vehicle dealer’s license if they break the law. Motorcycle lane splitting: Driving a motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles is legal in the state, and riders and drivers need to watch out for one another. The California Highway Patrol will develop educational guidelines about lane splitting for the safety of motorcyclists, drivers, and passengers. Expect the California Drivers Handbook to add a section soon with some suggestions for drivers and riders about safe passage in the aisle. • Finance Creating Desirable Jobs by Getting Back to the Basics (BPT) - When it comes to hiring and retaining employees, companies are always looking at new alternatives to build their staffs. However, new research shows that when it comes to attracting top talent, many professionals prefer a return to the basics, meaning stable employment with competitive base pay with traditional medical and retirement benefits are key. The findings come from a recent survey conducted by the Career Advisory Board, which was established by DeVry University in 2010. The survey asked employees to offer their insight into what is most important for them when looking for the right workplace. Below are some of the most interesting findings. Predictability over Perks Employees responded resoundingly that they wanted their work life to be more in line with those of the generations before. Eighty-one percent of survey respondents said they would like to work a single, full-time job as opposed to contract work or several smaller positions. This desire rang especially true with millennials as 91 percent of those surveyed agreed. Respondents also preferred going to the office every day (22 percent) compared to working from remotely full-time (18 percent). Millennials, in particular, were more likely to seek a job where they had to be in the office each day (27 percent). Stable jobs were valued by 84 percent of survey respondents, while only 16 percent said they preferred a job that may come with riskier employment opportunities. Employers Looking to Stay the Course For employers looking to attract and retain top talent, they should focus on solidifying their existing benefits package. A competitive salary remained the most important benefit employees consider in an employer, but traditional offerings such as medical/dental coverage, paid time off and retirement plans were heavily favored over newer perks, including onsite food, wellness offerings and day care. Employers also don’t need to look at making dramatic changes to their existing organizational structure to attract employees. Thirty-six percent said they prefer working for a single manager, while 18 percent said they appreciated the opportunity to report to multiple managers. However, no matter how employers establish their hierarchy, they should always be looking for ways to give employees a chance to impact company decisions. Fifty-six percent said they prefer a job with “authority to make decisions that impact the entire organization,” a sign employees care deeply about where they work and want to have a vital role in its growth. Employees Seizing what They Want For employees looking for new positions, the job market is healthier and those with the right skills and attributes will have their pick of positions. As we move further away from the recession years and the economy improves, those who can afford to take their time in their job search are most likely to find a position offering the things most important to them. “The survey results show us that businesses today need to be good employers, offering stable employment with competitive base pay and traditional medical and retirement benefits,” says Alexandra Levit, business and workplace consultant and Career Advisory Board member. “The average American worker isn’t necessarily looking for all the bells and whistles.” To learn more about the study, visit www. careeradvisoryboard.org. • Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. 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