Telework and your Rights. CAPS members in most Departments are being asked to work from home in an effort to follow Governor Newsom’s Stay at Home Order. That said, all of your employee rights remain in full effect. If you need CAPS’ assistance, or have a question about your rights, please contact CAPS (caps@capsscientists.org).

Working on Holidays. Last Tuesday, March 31st, was a State-Observed Holiday, Cesar Chavez Day. State Scientists may have been required to work if responding to the Pandemic. If so, please note that Government Code section 19853 provides all state employees with straight time worked for the holiday, plus eight hours of holiday credit. A list of state-observed holidays can be found on the CalHR website here.

CAPSule on the Website. Due to Governor Newsom’s Stay-at-Home order and issues arising from the novel coronavirus, this month’s CAPSule is an email-only issue.  Thank you for understanding. Access it on the CAPS website here.

State Scientist Day Postponed.  CAPS’ Annual State Scientist Day event, scheduled for Wednesday, May 6th, 2020, has been postponed due to safety precautions surrounding the novel coronavirus. We will monitor the situation as it unfolds and plan to select a new date later this year, once large events have been given the all-clear by public health officials. Stay tuned.

News Briefs

California’s New Priority Product Under SCP Program: Carpets/Rugs Containing PFAS – California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control recently proposed to add carpets and rugs containing perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a Priority Product under the state’s Safer Consumer Products program.

Sale of certain pesticides halts in anticipation of discontinuation of product –  Statewide sales of pesticides containing the active ingredient chlorpyrifos stopped earlier this year in anticipation of the discontinuation of the product at the end of the year.