Agricultural Occupations #14

California IWC Wage Order No. 14 – Agricultural Occupations Poster

Help satisfy California workplace posting requirements with the California IWC Wage Order No. 14 – Agricultural Occupations Poster. This 18 x 24-inch notice explains important wage, hour, overtime, meal period, rest period, reporting time, and working-condition requirements for employees covered by California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order No. 14.

California agricultural employers should determine whether Wage Order No. 14 applies to their employees and post the applicable Wage Order in an area frequented by employees where it can be easily read during the workday.

What Is California IWC Wage Order No. 14?

IWC Wage Order No. 14-2001 regulates wages, hours, and working conditions for employees working in California agricultural occupations.

The order applies to covered agricultural employees whether they are paid on a time, piece-rate, commission, or other basis, subject to applicable exemptions and exclusions.

What Is an Agricultural Occupation?

California defines agricultural occupations broadly. Covered agricultural work can include preparing and caring for farmland, planting and cultivating agricultural commodities, harvesting crops, caring for livestock, certain forestry operations, and other work specifically identified by Wage Order No. 14.

The correct Wage Order depends on the work employees actually perform and whether another California Wage Order, including Wage Order No. 8 or Wage Order No. 13, applies to the operation.

Farm Land Preparation and Maintenance

Wage Order No. 14 covers agricultural occupations involving the preparation, care, and treatment of farm land, pipelines, and ditches.

Covered activities can include:

• Leveling land for agricultural purposes
• Plowing
• Discing
• Fertilizing soil
• Maintaining agricultural pipelines
• Maintaining agricultural ditches
• Other covered preparation and treatment of farm land

Planting and Crop Care

Employees engaged in sowing, planting, and caring for agricultural or horticultural commodities can fall under Wage Order No. 14.

Crop-care activities can include:

• Cultivation
• Irrigation
• Weed control
• Thinning
• Heating
• Pruning
• Tying
• Fumigating
• Spraying
• Dusting

Harvesting Agricultural Products

Wage Order No. 14 covers many employees engaged in harvesting agricultural and horticultural commodities.

Covered harvesting activities can include:

• Picking
• Cutting
• Threshing
• Mowing
• Knocking off
• Field chopping
• Bunching
• Baling
• Balling
• Field packing
• Placing products in field containers
• Loading products into vehicles used to haul the commodity

Transportation of Agricultural Products

Certain transportation activities can be part of an agricultural occupation under Wage Order No. 14.

The order includes transportation of harvested agricultural or horticultural commodities on the farm or to a place of first processing or distribution when the transportation falls within the agricultural occupation provisions.

Transportation occurring beyond these agricultural activities may be subject to another California Wage Order, so employers should evaluate the work performed by drivers and other transportation employees.

Livestock and Animal Care

Wage Order No. 14 also covers many occupations involving the raising, feeding, and management of livestock.

Depending on the operation, agricultural employees may perform work involving:

• Feeding animals
• Caring for livestock
• Managing livestock
• Maintaining livestock areas
• Other activities directly connected with agricultural animal operations

Forestry and Tree Operations

Certain forestry and tree-related activities performed as agricultural occupations can also fall under Wage Order No. 14.

Employers involved in tree farming, forestry, nursery, or related operations should compare the work performed with the definitions in Wage Order No. 14 and other potentially applicable California Wage Orders.

Commercial Fishing and Agricultural Occupations

California's agricultural occupation definition also includes certain work involving the harvesting of fish, as provided by Wage Order No. 14.

Employers should review the complete order when determining whether fishing, aquaculture, or related operations fall within Wage Order No. 14 or another California Wage Order.

Wage Order 14 vs. Wage Order 8 and Wage Order 13

Wage Order No. 14 does not apply to employees covered by Wage Order No. 8 or Wage Order No. 13.

These orders address different stages and locations of agricultural work:

• Wage Order No. 14 – agricultural occupations such as preparing farmland, planting, cultivating, harvesting, and other covered agricultural work
• Wage Order No. 13 – certain industries preparing agricultural products for market on the farm
• Wage Order No. 8 – industries handling certain agricultural and food products after harvest

Agricultural employers should evaluate where the work takes place, the nature of the operation, and the work employees actually perform before selecting the applicable Wage Order.

What Workplace Rules Does Wage Order 14 Cover?

California IWC Wage Order No. 14 addresses wage-and-hour and working-condition requirements for covered agricultural employees, including:

• Hours and days of work
• Overtime compensation
• Minimum wages
• Reporting time pay
• Payroll and employment records
• Cash shortages and breakage
• Uniforms and equipment
• Meals and lodging
• Meal periods
• Rest periods
• Suitable seating
• Temperature and working conditions
• Exempt employee classifications
• Other requirements established by the order

California Minimum Wage and Agricultural Employees

California's statewide minimum wage is updated separately from Wage Order No. 14. Agricultural employers should comply with the current California Minimum Wage Order and determine whether additional state or local wage requirements apply.

Employers should display the current California Minimum Wage notice together with the applicable IWC industry or occupation Wage Order.

Overtime for California Agricultural Workers

California agricultural employees are subject to overtime requirements under applicable state law and Wage Order No. 14.

California phased in agricultural overtime requirements over several years. Covered agricultural workers are now generally subject to overtime standards that can require premium pay based on daily and weekly hours worked, subject to applicable exemptions and special rules.

Agricultural employers should review the current Wage Order and California law when calculating overtime because employee classification and the type of agricultural work performed can affect the applicable requirements.

Meal Period Requirements

Wage Order No. 14 contains meal period requirements for covered agricultural employees.

Employers should provide meal periods in accordance with the applicable Wage Order and current California law and should review any exceptions or special provisions relevant to their workforce.

Rest Period Requirements

Covered agricultural employees may be entitled to authorized and permitted rest periods under California law.

Agricultural employers should ensure that workplace policies and field operations allow employees to receive all applicable rest periods and other required breaks.

Reporting Time Pay and the Five-Employee Rule

Wage Order No. 14 contains a special provision concerning reporting time pay.

The reporting time pay section does not apply to an agricultural employer that employs fewer than five employees covered by Wage Order No. 14.

However, if the employer has five or more covered employees at any time during a calendar year, the reporting time pay provisions apply to that employer for the remainder of that calendar year as provided by the Wage Order.

Family Members of Agricultural Employers

Wage Order No. 14 contains an exclusion for certain close family members of the employer.

The order does not apply to an individual who is the employer's parent, spouse, child, or legally adopted child.

Employers should distinguish this Wage Order exclusion from other California or federal employment requirements that may independently apply.

Does Wage Order 14 Apply to Exempt Employees?

Wage Order No. 14 contains an exemption for certain employees engaged in primarily intellectual, managerial, or creative work who exercise discretion and independent judgment and satisfy the applicable compensation requirements.

Whether an employee qualifies for an exemption depends on the employee's actual duties, compensation, and other applicable requirements. A job title or salaried status alone does not establish an exemption.

Where Must IWC Wage Order 14 Be Posted?

California requires employers subject to Wage Order No. 14 to keep the applicable order posted in an area frequented by employees where it can be easily read during the workday.

Depending on the agricultural operation, appropriate locations may include:

• Employee break areas
• Farm offices
• Employee bulletin boards
• Packing or field check-in areas
• Equipment facilities
• Employee entrances
• Other conspicuous locations accessible to agricultural employees

When work locations or other conditions make posting impractical, employers should follow the applicable Wage Order requirements for making the notice available to employees.

Is California IWC Wage Order No. 14 Required?

Yes, when Wage Order No. 14 applies to the employer's employees. California employers must maintain the applicable Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Order where employees can review their wage, hour, and working-condition rights.

The Wage Order should be maintained together with other applicable California and federal workplace notices.

How Do I Know Which Agricultural Wage Order Applies?

Agricultural employers should pay particular attention to the distinctions among Wage Order No. 14, Wage Order No. 13, and Wage Order No. 8.

The correct Wage Order depends on factors including:

• Where the work is performed
• The stage of agricultural production
• Whether products have been harvested
• Whether employees are preparing products for market
• The employer's operations
• The work employees actually perform

IWC Wage Order No. 14 Poster Specifications

• 18"W x 24"H
• Portrait orientation
• Printed in full color
• Laminated with high-quality laminate
• Available in English and Spanish
• California Agricultural Occupations Wage Order

California Labor Law and Compliance Resources

Labor Law Compliance Center provides agricultural employers with California labor law posters, IWC Wage Orders, city and local workplace notices, specialty postings, and compliance resources throughout the United States. Browse our California IWC Wage Orders or visit our California Labor Law Posters page for additional California workplace posting requirements and compliance products.