Warehouse Worker Resource Center

Improving working conditions in the warehouse industry in Southern California

Article

What’s a quota?

by

Everything you need to know if you’re working in a warehouse.

As of January 2022 California law protects the health and safety of warehouse workers.

Here’s a simple quiz you can take to see if you are covered:

A) Do you work in a warehouse?

B) Are there a 100 or more employees?

C) If fewer than 100 people, does your company have 1,000 or more total warehouse employees in California?

D) Does your warehouse use work quotas, rates, or similar performance targets?

If you answered YES to these questions then you are covered. Here’s what that means:

As of Jan. 1, 2022, under California’s new law AB 701 your employer MUST:

  • Have provided existing employees a written description of every quota an employee is expected to meet 
  • Provide every newly hired employee with a written description of each quota they are expected to meet 

Your employer also CANNOT:

  • Discipline or terminate you for failing to meet a quota for which you were not provided a written description as described above.
  • Discipline or terminate you for failing to meet a quota requiring so much work or speed that it prevents you from taking meal or rest breaks, using the bathroom, or following CalOSHA safety laws. 

Do you have questions? 

If you never received a written description of your quota, contact us! Two ways:

  1. Call (951) 394-0236 (Español or English)
  2. Email: legal@warehouseworkers.org

More information:

For questions or to file a complaint for an AB 701 violation, you can also contact the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/districtoffices.htm). 

 

Disclaimer: This material is for general information only and is not legal advice. The law in individual circumstances may vary and you should consult an attorney for advice on your specific situation.

HEAT KILLS – Is Your Employer Doing Enough to Protect You?

by

OUTDOOR and INDOOR Heat Exposure Can Be Dangerous

Every year, thousands of people get sick from workplace heat exposure, and some cases are fatal. Heat illness is a serious medical condition that can occur when the body becomes unable to cope with heat conditions and maintain a safe internal temperature. Heat-related illnesses include heat exhaustion, heat rash, heat syncope (fainting), and heat stroke.

Heat Illness Symptoms: Know the Warning Signs: Heat exhaustion is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention. Left untreated, heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency that can be fatal without emergency care.

What Causes Heat Illness?

It’s not just the temperature. The biggest risk factors for heat illness include:

  • High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind.
  • Heavy physical labor.
  • New exposure and lack of acclimatization to heat conditions.
  • Low fluid intake.
  • Thick or non-breathable clothing.
Responding to Heat Illness

If someone shows signs of serious heat exhaustion or heat stroke, get help right away.

  • Call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, call 911.
  • Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.
  • Move the worker to a cooler and/or shaded area.
  • Remove outer clothing.
  • Fan and mist the worker with water; apply ice (ice bags or ice towels).
  • Provide cool drinking water, if able to drink.
  • Preventing Heat Illness
Prevention Strategies: Water, Rest, Shade

When working in hot conditions, drink plenty of water, rest regularly and when you feel the need to, and rest in shaded or cool areas such as a breakroom to cool down and recover.

What Does My Employer Have to Do?

If you work OUTDOORS, you are covered under Cal/OSHA’s outdoor heat illness prevention standard, and your employer must, among other things:

  • Provide training on heat illness and employer’s prevention procedures.
  • Provide clean, cool drinking water free of charge.
  • When temperature exceeds 80 °F, provide shaded area(s) at all times for workers to sit in during breaks.
  • Allow and encourage workers to take a cool-down rest in the shade when they feel the need to do so to protect themselves from overheating.

In industries of agriculture, construction, landscaping, oil and gas extraction, and transportation (including warehousing) of heavy materials, when temperature exceeds 95 °F, employers must also, among other things:

  • Observe employees for alertness and symptoms of heat illness.
  • Designate one or more employees to call emergency services.
  • Remind employees throughout the work shift to drink plenty of water.
  • Hold pre-shift meetings to review procedures, encourage water drinking, and remind workers of the right to cool-down rests.

If you work INDOORS, following general Cal/OSHA regulations, your employer must provide access to potable water and take steps to prevent and respond to heat illness. In indoor workplaces, employers have some flexibility on what measures to take, but they must do enough to reasonably protect workers from known heat exposure hazards. This might include best practices such as:

  • Provide training on heat illness and employer’s prevention procedures.
  • Reduce temperature with A/C, fans, or other air circulation.
  • Reduce exertion and exposure by slowing work, increasing breaks, or rotating workers through hot areas.
  • Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as cooling vests or towels.
Your Right to Speak Up and Take Action
  • You have the right to speak up to protect your health and safety on the job. It is against the law for your employer to retaliate against you for making an oral or written complaint about unsafe working conditions or practices to your employer or Cal/OSHA.
  • If your employer is not keeping you safe, you can file a confidential complaint with Cal/OSHA (Phone: 833-579-0927; https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/Complaint.htm).
  • Contact a WWRC representative for help.

Income Tax Resources

by

California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC):

  • If a person makes $30,000 or less, they may qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). The CalEITC and YCTC are now available to taxpayers who do not have a Social Security Number, but file their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN),regardless of their immigration status.
  • Website: [link to qualify] [link for general information] 

Golden State Stimulus:

California will provide the Golden State Stimulus payment to families and people who qualify. This is a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment per tax return. A person may receive this payment if they receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Golden State Stimulus 2: [link to updated stimulus information] 

Free Tax Preparation:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA):

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to individuals who file simple returns and generally make $57,000 a year or less. This program offers IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.

Utilities and Phone Service

by

Water and Utility Shutoff: 

Water systems are prohibited from shutting off water during the COVID-19 crisis due to non-payment.

  •  Please go to [link] to report any water shutoff or reconnect
  •  Please call 1-844-903-2800 if you need translation help to file a report. 

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance:

  • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that can offer a one-time payment to help:
  •  Pay heating or cooling bills, even if the person uses wood, propane, or oil.
  •  In an emergency or energy crisis, such as a utility disconnection.
  • In addition to helping with paying the energy bill, LIHEAP can also provide in-home weatherization services for Improved energy efficiency, and health and safety.
  • Website:https://csd.ca.gov/ 
  • Or call 1-866-675-6623.

Riverside Resources:

https://csd.ca.gov/pages/Services.aspx?SCI=Riverside&SCU=Riverside%20County&PT=H 

San Bernardino Resources: 

https://csd.ca.gov/Pages/Services.aspx?SCU=San%20Bernardino%20County&PT=CM 

Los Angeles Resources:

https://csd.ca.gov/Pages/ServiceCityList.aspx?SCU=Los%20Angeles%20County 

 

Phone Services

California LifeLine Program:

  • The California LifeLine Program is a state program that provides discounted home phone and cell phone services to eligible households.
  • Website: https://californialifeline.com/en 
  • Provides help with status and phone services. Has a limited time limit, but has the possibility of being extended. It’s free at first, and then later you will have to pay. 

Housing

by

Housing is Key:

  • Financial help with mortgage, rent, and eviction protection through the pandemic. [Link]

San Bernardino Resource for Housing: 

  • San Bernardino Emergency Rental Program : Income qualified renters in the City of San Bernardino with a valid COVID financial impact are eligible for up to 12 months of past due rental and utility assistance from March 13, 2020 up to the time of application. [link]

Riverside Resource for Housing:

  • City of Riverside Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program: County of Riverside’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program information and to apply for rental and utility assistance.  [link]

Los Angeles Resource for Housing: 

  • Housing is Key LA:  Website that helps in mortgage, eviction protection, and rent if you’re eligible. [link]

Housing for Harvest:

  • Housing for the Harvest is a program that offers temporary hotel housing to agricultural and food processing workers, including farm workers, who need to be isolated due to COVID-19. 
  • Situated in multiple counties including Riverside
  • Mainly towards the aid of farmworkers.
  • [link] 

HHPWS: 

  • Building Strong Communities through Housing, Jobs & Community Action. The vision for the HHPWS is a county where all residents have access to opportunities to achieve and chart their own destiny and where poverty is rare and of short-occurrence.
  • [link] 

Project Roomkey: 

  • Project Roomkey gives people who are experiencing homelessness and are recovering from COVID-19 or have been exposed to COVID-19 a place to recuperate and properly quarantine outside of a hospital. [link] 

Food Assistance and Support

by

Find a food bank near you. 

San Bernardino Food Banks:

  • Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County: A program with various resources including housing and food banks in San Bernardino.  [link] (909) 723-1500
  • Feeding America Riverside/ San Bernardino: Resource to look for distribution centers, and benefit help for food. [link] (951) 359-4757

Riverside Food Banks: 

Find (Food in Need of Distribution): We are the emergency disaster response regional food bank recognized by the state and county as the first line of defense against hunger. [link] 760) 775-3663

  • Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Includes volunteering events, food banks, and monthly giving.(323) 234-3030 [link] 
  • Westside Food Bank: Access to free nutritious food through food acquisition and distribution, and by engaging the community and advocating for a strong food assistance network.                       (310) 828-6016 [link] 

Calfresh (EBT, SNAP):

  • State benefits program that provides food benefits to help people buy food at most grocery stores and farmers markets.People and families with low income can apply for CalFresh any time. 
  • 1-877-847-3663 (1-877-847-FOOD) [link] 
  • Undocumented: [link] 

Only Applicable if:

–you have a son or daughter with Citizenship

-has a green card

-Has refugee status, asylum, or parolee status

-Has, or is applying for, a U-Visa or T-Visa

-Is an applicant for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) relief

-Is a Cuban or Haitian entrant

 

Not Applicable if:

-They are here on a student, work, or tourist visa

-They are here under DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

-They are here under TPS (Temporary Protected Status), unless they meet the other qualifying factors

-They are undocumented

WIC: 

  • WIC is a state benefits program that provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and benefits for healthy foods. WIC can also help with finding health care and  other community services.
  • Serves babies and children up to age 5, pregnant women, and new mothers.
  • Working families and migrant families are welcome to apply.
  • call 1-888-942-9675 or apply online at: [link]

Join Our List Donate