WrestleMania 31 to Take Place in Santa Clara March, 2015!

Watch Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews (pictured centered) introduce WrestleMania 31 at http://youtu.be/EXwfjpZIX3M

Joining a growing list of major events scheduled for Levi’s Stadium, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will host the 31st edition of the “Show of Shows” WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara March 29, 2015. At a star studded press conference held at the Santa Clara Convention Center announcing the event, Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews joined WWE President and CEO Vince McMahon, many of WWE’s biggest stars, San Francisco 49ers owner and CEO Jed York, and 49ers players Vernon Davis and Alex Boone.

“WrestleMania should be on everyone’s bucket list,” said McMahon. “I assure you WrestleMania will rival, if not supersede, the Super Bowl or anything else that will be in that extraordinary facility.”  More than 70,000 fans will visit Santa Clara and Silicon Valley for the week-long festivities that go along with WrestleMania 31.  WWE also plans to give back to the local community through activities like Be a STAR anti bullying rallies, the WrestleMania Reading Challenge, hospital visits and other charitable endeavors.

With its first official sports event featuring Major League Soccer (MLS) on August 2, 2014, Levi’s Stadium is also scheduled this year to host 49ers pre and regular season games, the Cal vs. Oregon Pac 12 college football match-up, and Fight Hunger Bowl game. The stadium has also been awarded the National Football League’s (NFL) Super Bowl 50 in February, 2016.

New Employment Laws for 2014

Each year we see many new changes in Employment Law, and 2014 is no exception.  Some of the changes that employers need to be aware of include:

Leaves of Absence:

New laws:  Expansion of California Paid Family Leave for leave to care for a seriously ill grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or parent-in-law; new leave for emergency rescue personnel and reserve peace officers to take training; San Francisco’s new flexible work arrangement ordinance.

New rulings:  What counts as “leave fraud”; 5-weeks leave as religious accommodation for overseas funeral ceremonies; $21 million jury verdict for employee allegedly terminated after 3-day no call/no show due to panic attacks; FMLA leave to care for disabled adult children.

Wage & Hour:

New laws:  Increases in minimum wage requirements for exempt computer software professionals, general “white collar” exemptions, and non-exempt minimum wages.

New rulings:  Limiting when managers’ non-exempt tasks may be deemed exempt work; field technicians’ class actions for “contractor” status misclassification and break violations.

Sexual Harassment, Training & Investigations:  U.S. Supreme Court ruling on who is a “supervisor,” and a new NLRB ruling that an employer’s policy unlawfully prohibited employees from discussing HR investigations.

Alcohol at Work:  Court ruling that employer could be held liable for employee car accident after serving alcohol to the employee.

Discrimination & Retaliation:

New laws:  Employers prohibited from reporting or threatening to report a worker’s immigration status for improper reasons; military and veterans status added to list of categories protected by the California Fair Employment & Housing Act; non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation for victims of domestic violence.

New rulings:  Obligation to inform disabled employees of other jobs; retaliation claim against HR firm for discouraging employer from hiring applicant who filed discrimination lawsuit.

Competitors, Employee Loyalty, & Raiding:  New rulings that clarify employers’ rights when employees engaged in such activities as copying company data, wiping hard drives, disparaging the employer, and other disloyal behavior.  Also, recent rulings about alleged “no-poach” agreements.

The Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce & Convention-Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the law firm of Hixson Nagatani, LLP, will present an employment law update workshop on Thursday, January 30.  Attend this informative workshop to learn about all of the above changes and how to ensure your company is in compliance.  The workshop will be held at the Chamber office from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. – Register online.

Additionally, the Santa Clara Chamber offers our members discounted HR compliance products such as the California and Federal Employment Posters.  You may order your posters through the Chamber by completing the attached form.  Avoid costly fines and purchase your compliance products today!

Get Engaged in the New Year!

Make engagement with the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce your New Year’s Resolution!

As you plan your business strategies for 2014, we hope you will include the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau on your list of organizations to become more involved with to assist you in achieving your goals and growing your business.

We know 2013 was a better year for most of our members and know the 2014 economic forecast is predicting improvement to continue.  Now is the time to take advantage of the many benefits your Chamber membership provides!  We urge you to consider getting involved in the many opportunities we offer your organization.  Here is a list of just a few:

Exciting Future Events:

1/23/14 – Focus on Santa Clara Outlook 2014– Developer Showcase, 5:00-6:30pm at the Santa Clara Convention Center.  Interested in learning more about the new developments currently in play throughout Santa Clara?  A panel of developers will discuss a number of these projects and answer questions from the audience.

3/12/14 – S3 Mixer with San Jose and Sunnyvale Chambers of Commerce at Santana Row.  This is a great opportunity to connect with over 400 like-minded business people.

4/10/14 – Silicon Valley Chamber Business Xpo- Meet with close to 100 businesses in an exposition format at the Santa Clara Convention Center.  Event will start in the late afternoon with seminars that will help you grow your business followed by a business Xpo.

Join one of our Committees – We offer four divisions of the Chamber: 1) Government Relations; 2) Industrial, Commercial and Economic Development; 3) Membership Services; 4) Convention-Visitors Bureau and Convention Center.  Each division has its own set of goals and programs with some holding regularly scheduled meetings. We also have an Ambassador Committee that meets the first Thursday of every month, as well as the Silicon Valley Young Professionals (SVYP).

Request a Membership Benefits Review – Call the Chamber and speak to one of our team members to schedule a meeting to review your membership benefits.   We will spend as much time as you can afford reviewing our “Membership Tool Kit”.

Not only will your Chamber be organizing and promoting the programs and events outlined here, we will be continuing our advocacy for the business community and adding new programs and seminars based on your feedback.

We need your engagement to help us succeed in continuing our efforts in giving your business the power to grow.  Working together, 2014 will be successful for all of us!

– Steve Van Dorn, President and CEO, steve.vandorn@santaclara.org

Member Referrals – January 2014

We would like to recognize and acknowledge member referrals for the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce.  The following new members were referred by an existing member of the Chamber, and we would like to recognize and thank them for their support.

Ravinder Lal with The UPS Store #4636, 2784 Homestead Road, Santa Clara, referred Abdul Erikat with Metro Sedans.  If you are looking for transportation to and from the San Jose or San Francisco Airport or need a limo for an event or special occasion, contact Abdul at (408) 230-6622 to be transported in style.   For all of your business needs, including printing, copying, signs, business cards and shipping, contact Ravinder at (408) 247-4010 for excellent value and service.

Every month we will publish any new members who have joined and were referred by an existing member.   When a member has referred a total of three new members, they will receive a $100.00 advertising credit.

Member of the Month: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara

Treat yourself to the ultimate in convenience and Four Diamond excellence at Hyatt Regency Santa Clara. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, this luxury Bay Area hotel is attached to the Santa Clara Convention Center and right across the street from California’s Great America Theme Park. Their contemporary accommodations feature sweeping views of the valley, Hyatt Grand Beds™, Wi-Fi & Internet access and oversized work desks. Choose from three inviting dining options offering Tuscan cuisine, classic American or tantalizing Sushi. Superb catering, expert meeting planners, a 24-hour business center and extensive function space assure successful events at the Santa Clara, California hotel.

Discover why unmatched service and an ideal location make Hyatt Regency Santa Clara the premier accommodation for business or leisure in the Bay Area. Visit www.santaclara.hyatt.com to learn more.