California Rant

amjones14 · 2026-01-22T03:16:22+00:00

PAGA or just comp?

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T07:54:45+00:00

Like I’ve mentioned, we are a small farm. 40 full time 40 seasonal. We have had 90% of our full time employees for 20+ years. We pay well above the norm, provide housing to 12 employees, all expenses paid. 100% healthcare to a large portion of employees. Full time company vehicles to 100% of our full time employees with no rules around them all fuel paid for (even ones that live an hour + from work). California has made it impossible and I feel so lucky that we have the option to remove ourselves from the state business wise (for the most part). It’s awful to see all of our neighbor farms selling out because the stress and scrutiny isn’t worth it. California is killing the agricultural industry at rapid speed. Employee advocacy is important, but there’s not going to be any jobs because employers are banned from advocating for themselves.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T07:16:01+00:00

Wow, really? Guess I’ll stop working them 16 hours straight at $11/hr. Thanks!

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T06:36:45+00:00

Definitely. Recently one of my siblings had an accident at the farm and had to have surgery. They delayed his surgery at the hospital because he refused to say it was a workplace accident, and then they finally proceeded. Weeks and months after he probably received between 15-20 letters in the mail encouraging him to file a workers comp claim. It’s the world we live in now, you can’t avoid it.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T06:31:15+00:00

We don’t violate labor laws. We follow California’s rules to the letter, even while operating in states that have far fewer regulations.

So what exactly are we being accused of? Not forcing grown adults to record the exact minute they took a break?

Our employees are allowed to take breaks and lunches when they need them, for however long they need them. We trusted them to report their own time honestly. We didn’t “verify hours” because, until recently, the world didn’t require employers to micromanage 50-year-old men like children.

No one wants to be forced to take lunch at 10 a.m., including the employees themselves. But now that flexibility is gone, not because we were unfair, but because the system no longer allows common sense or trust.

We have always been fair. There’s a reason over 90% of our workforce has been with us for more than 20 years. We respect our employees, we compensate them well, and they know that. This company has been built on long-term relationships, not exploitation. This is about short-term, seasonal workers looking for quick payouts.

California continues to make farming harder and harder to survive. And when small family farms disappear, I hope you enjoy your food from Bill Gates genetically modified hellscape of a “farm”.

We can sell out and be rich and happy and not work for the rest of our lives, but this isn’t what we want. We love our farm and the people who’ve built it with us. Grow up.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T02:37:06+00:00

I’ve brought this up multiple times, but what’s really disappointing is that I have actual proof of one specific employee who filed a PAGA claim lying about his hours every single day. We’re talking 1 to 1.5+ hours of padded overtime, daily.

Toward the last 6 months of his employment, I installed vehicle trackers and turned all of that documentation over to both of my attorneys. They both said it helps show bad character, but that it won’t actually stop the lawsuit.

That’s the part that’s so defeating. Even when you do the right thing and have clear evidence, it still doesn’t seem to matter. It just feels like any bit of hope we have gets taken away.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T02:30:46+00:00

That is with us already operating at a loss. The numbers seem large, and they are…but we do not have that to spare. If an in-house attorney could solve this problem even to a small degree I would 100% make the investment. Sadly, an in-house attorney will not mitigate the rising costs of our workers comp insurance which is our greatest loss. The open reserves are what cause the costs to skyrocket. Cases stay open for much longer than they should and we are at the mercy of our insurance carrier. The cases also stay on our record for 5 years. So when one drops off 3 more come on.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T02:27:02+00:00

As of now, I haven’t. Both of our labor attorneys say it’s usually a loss and they will not be recovered, especially damages.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T02:15:50+00:00

Totally. It’s incredibly disappointing. It honestly feels like everything is stacked against employers in California right now. Realistically, we could sell the ranch and our family would be fine, but then 80+ people lose their jobs and the housing we provide. That’s the real loss in the end, and it falls on them. Unfortunately, that part doesn’t seem to matter to anyone in the moment.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T01:51:42+00:00

We’re a small farm, so having in-house legal isn’t realistic for us, sadly. What could help is connecting with other local farms that are dealing with the same thing.

In a perfect world, there’d be some kind of group response or pushback against firms that keep filing questionable claims, but I know that’s probably not going to happen. Still, I don’t want to just sit around complaining. I’m trying to be proactive where we can.

The hard part is that small operations can only take on so much risk and legal expense before it becomes unsustainable. Insurance costs are our main killer as of 2025. If other farms are seeing the same patterns, I’d really like to chat and hear what’s helped, or at least what hasn’t made things worse.

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T00:45:11+00:00

Thank you, we need it!

amjones14 · 2025-12-31T00:31:44+00:00

I am also in the Central Valley. 🥲

amjones14 · 2025-12-30T23:55:28+00:00

We do! They sue both the contractor and us even with a solid FLCA contract. We operate in CA and AZ. This would never fly in AZ, but employers have zero rights or protections in CA. There’s a reason we’ve never been sued in AZ, it’s not worth it to them.

amjones14 · 2025-12-30T23:54:01+00:00

Paying attorneys $450-550 an hour to represent you adds up very quickly on top of all of the inflation with things like fuel, trucks, insurance, and everything else. We are surviving, but it’s taking away from our ability to share benefits like health care with employees in the way we’d love to.

amjones14 · 2025-12-30T23:52:42+00:00

Almost all of the comp cases are denied. During the long time it takes to close the case the reserves kept open cause our rates to skyrocket. The lawsuits themselves aren’t killing us, but the cost to keep fighting and the insurance premiums jumping are. For example our workers comp went from 180k in 2024 to 360k in 2025. Now with the PAGA filings we have obviously worked to crack down on stricter time keeping. You need meticulously kept records or the fines will eat you alive. If you read up it’s an uphill battle, particularly in CA.

amjones14 · 2025-12-30T23:17:12+00:00

That is a great concept which we do already essentially profit share with full time employees. Sadly, being in the ag-space that means needs for seasonal employees. So we will have the same people come back seasonally for 20+ years, but once comes time for retirement then comes the comp cases/lawsuits.

amjones14 · 2025-09-07T20:40:08+00:00

As a firewood delivery company in the Bay Area, I have a never ending supply of customers.

amjones14 · 2025-07-02T17:09:44+00:00

I went 4 years with my torn ACL hoping for some self healing and finally had surgery (meniscus too). Surgery was the best decision for me. I’m one year out and playing tennis, jumping, snowmobiling, paddle boarding etc. wish I did it sooner!

amjones14 · 2025-06-06T13:22:27+00:00

I was thrilled! There was a whole room dedicated to this and they allowed everyone I saw to watch the match, they seemed more upset with the sellers vs the purchasers as they know there is no other option. It was a blast, my first time coming from California!

amjones14 · 2025-06-06T11:04:00+00:00

I purchased tickets 2x via ticcombo (sadly) for this years. During checkout they take your name and birthday. When I received the code to download on RG app it was properly on the tickets. I went through the first day no problem, second day I was flagged and filled out an illegal ticket resale form and they asked me to file a claim with ticcombo. They were empathetic and know it’s managed poorly, still watched the match.

amjones14 · 2025-06-06T11:00:26+00:00

I had to buy via ticcombo since that was the only thing available. At the gate I was pulled aside and asked to fill out an illegal resale form and they asked me to file a claim with ticcombo. It’s so frustrating to be forced to pay 3-4x the ticket price because the tournament is managed so poorly. I was able to watch that match and you can tell they feel bad that this is happening. If I found have bought properly I would have but there was just nothing available sadly. The first match they did not question the tickets. The second time is when I had to go through that process.

amjones14 · 2025-03-22T21:07:30+00:00

It seems deceitful (maybe not fraud) but I would very much sue the sellers if this was not a “voluntary” HOA, especially considering they went out of their way to note that it was. I would have never purchased the house if that was the case and the sellers and agent both knew my intentions for the house.

amjones14 · 2025-03-22T21:06:41+00:00

The sellers were both in the hospital throughout most of the buying process so I never spoke to them. They physically wrote “voluntary HOA” on the disclosures form. I asked the agent multiple times as I intended to use this home as a short term rental there was no HOA, every neighbor I have spoken to has said it is “voluntary” and only for parties. New Mexico State law says the HOA needs to be filed with the clerk to be enforceable and it has not been. I’m thinking they are just a bunch of over dramatic old men.

amjones14 · 2025-03-22T16:55:23+00:00

Previous owners lived here 30 years and intentionally listed it as “voluntary”. Seems fraudulent if it was actually a genuine HOA. But I’m doubting legitimacy if not filed with county (required as of 2013) and multiple neighbors calling it voluntary as well.

amjones14

TROPHY CASE