(Wines&Vines) - A new California law that went into effect in January 2016 presents problems for employers who pay their workers piece-rate (rather than hourly) wages. AB 1513 requires companies to separate piece-work compensation from rest and recovery (R&R) breaks and other “non-productive” time on the job.

Employers may still take advantage of a “safe harbor” provision to pay back wages in exchange for relief from statutory penalties and other damages, but repayment plans must be in place by July 1. Details are provided here. Agriculture employers also may find help from their farm-management software providers.

Piece-rate compensation is popular with productive workers and with employers, especially in this era when skilled vineyard workers are in short supply and high demand in California.

Although statistics were not available, according to Tyler Blackney, director of government relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), “A lot of people do piece work. A lot of workers like it. This law will make it more complicated. I don’t know how HR (human resources) people will track it.”