In this issue
Archives
Side Articles
SHRM Inland Empire News & Events - October 2026
Message from SHRM Inland Empire President Elect
IESHRM Annual Conference
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | Delta Hotel Ontario, CA
Your Conference Preview: Culture, Connection & the Future of Work
Get ready for a day of connection, insight, and the kind of HR learning that moves your organization forward.
I am excited about this year’s IESHRM Annual Conference. We designed this event with you in mind, the HR professionals who are navigating change, building culture, and shaping the future of work every single day.
The future of work is changing fast, and HR is right at the center of it. That’s why I’m excited to welcome you to this year’s IESHRM Annual Conference. A day designed to spark ideas, strengthen relationships, and give you practical tools you can bring back to your organization immediately.
Don't Miss These Expert Sessions:
Upcoming Educational Programs
Stay informed with expert-led sessions on today's most pressing HR topics:
- The Future of the Workforce
- Rethinking Performance Management
- Navigating Leave Laws
- Hiring in California
- Minimizing the Disruption of a Workplace Investigation
- The Vanishing First Rung: Identifying and Building Talent When AI Owns Entry-Level Work
- Lead with Clarity
Why Attend?
✔ Employment law updates
✔ Practical compliance strategies
✔ Expert insights
✔ Valuable networking opportunities
Register today and gain actionable knowledge to support your organization and employees. View Details
IE SHRM Annual HR Conference
October 15, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Add to Calendar
Delta Hotels Ontario Airport | 2200 East Holt Boulevard | Ontario, CA 91761
Venue website | Directions
The Inland Empire SHRM Annual Conference is Back!
The workplace is evolving faster than ever—and HR is leading the way.
Join us at the 2026 Inland Empire SHRM Annual Conference: Culture, Connection & the Future of Work, where we'll explore how today's HR professionals are shaping organizations that thrive through innovation, meaningful human connection, and cultures that inspire people to do their best work.
As artificial intelligence, changing workforce expectations, and new ways of working continue to transform our organizations, one thing remains constant: people are at the heart of every successful workplace. This year's conference will bring together HR leaders, business executives, and workplace innovators to share practical strategies, emerging trends, and fresh perspectives that will help you lead your organization into the future.
Whether you're building high-performing teams, navigating workplace transformation, embracing AI, strengthening leadership, or creating a culture where employees feel connected and engaged, this full-day experience is designed to equip and inspire you.
Why Attend?
Shape the Future of Work
Explore the trends redefining today's workplace—from artificial intelligence and workforce planning to employee experience, leadership development, workplace culture, and the evolving role of HR as a strategic business partner.
Earn Recertification Credits
Receive up to 6 SHRM and HRCI recertification credits while investing in your professional growth and maintaining your certifications.
Learn from Visionary Leaders
Hear from nationally recognized keynote speakers, HR executives, thought leaders, and practitioners who are transforming organizations through innovative leadership, people-first strategies, and forward-thinking solutions.
Discover Innovative Solutions
Connect with leading HR technology providers, consultants, and service partners showcasing products and services designed to help your organization succeed in an ever-changing workplace.
Build Meaningful Connections
Network with more than 250 HR professionals, executives, managers, and business leaders from across the Inland Empire who are passionate about advancing the profession and supporting one another.
Be Inspired to Lead
Leave energized with practical tools, actionable ideas, and new professional relationships that will help you strengthen workplace culture, foster meaningful connections, and confidently navigate the future of work.
Whether you're an emerging HR professional, an experienced practitioner, or a senior executive, the 2026 Inland Empire SHRM Annual Conference will challenge your thinking, expand your network, and equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to build workplaces where people—and organizations—can thrive.
Because the future of work isn't just about technology. It's about creating cultures where people feel connected, valued, and empowered to succeed.
Legal News
Effective July 1, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) increased its standard mileage rate for business use of a personal vehicle to 76 cents per mile, up from 72.5 cents per mile. The new, higher mileage rate applies to eligible business miles driven on or after July 1, 2026. Miles driven before that date remain subject to the rate in effect at the time the miles were driven. Prior mileage rates are available on the IRS’s Standard Mileage Rates webpage.
For California employers, the increase is a timely reminder to confirm they are appropriately reimbursing employees who drive their personal vehicles for work.
Reimbursement Obligation Under Labor Code Section 2802
California Labor Code section 2802 requires an employer to indemnify employees for “all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties.” This obligation includes a duty to reimburse employees for the reasonable and necessary expenses associated with the employee’s use of their personal vehicle for work-related travel when the employer requires or permits that use.
In Gattuso v. Harte-Hanks Shoppers, Inc., 42 Cal.4th 554 (Cal. 2007), the California Supreme Court recognized three methods an employer may use to satisfy the obligation to reimburse employees for reasonable and necessary work-related vehicle expenses:
- Actual expense method – this method involves reimbursing the employee’s documented costs for fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, registration, and depreciation, apportioned to business use. This is the most accurate method of reimbursement, but the most burdensome for both employers and employees.
- Mileage reimbursement method – this method involves multiplying business miles driven by a per-mile rate, commonly the IRS standard mileage rate, which is “widely used and accepted” for approximating vehicle costs.
- Lump-sum method – this method involves paying a fixed car allowance, per diem, or gas stipend, provided the amount is sufficient to fully reimburse the employee’s actual, reasonable, and necessary work-related vehicle expenses.
Using the IRS Rate Is Permissible—But It Does Not Cap What Employees Are Owed
When an employer uses the “mileage reimbursement method,” the IRS standard mileage rate is a convenient benchmark, and California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (“DLSE”) has long treated it as a satisfactory rate for purposes of Labor Code section 2802 reimbursement, provided there is no evidence indicating that the employee was not fully reimbursed.
Employers should keep two limitations in mind. First, because the IRS mileage rate is only an approximation of possible vehicle expenses, an employee remains entitled to full reimbursement of their actual, reasonable, and necessary work-related vehicle costs. If the employee can show that their work-related vehicle expenses exceeded the amount of reimbursement paid by the employer, then the employer must make up the difference. The same principle applies to lump-sum allowances, which employees may always challenge as insufficient. Second, paying the IRS standard mileage rate is not legally required – rather, the IRS rate is a widely-used approximation of the reimbursement that the employee may actually be owed.
The Ordinary Commute Is Generally Not Reimbursable
Labor Code section 2802’s duty to reimburse employees’ work-related vehicle expenses applies to business miles, excluding the employee’s “ordinary commute” (i.e., travel between home and the employee’s regular worksite before and after the workday). As a general rule, the employee’s ordinary commute is not compensable working time and the related mileage is not reimbursable. By contrast, travel during the workday for business purposes, such as driving from the office to a client meeting, jobsite, or other required business location, should be treated as compensable working time and reimbursable business mileage.
Key Takeaways for Employers
We recommend that employers do the following:
- If the mileage reimbursement method is used, employers should update their reimbursement policies and payroll systems to apply the 76-cent per-mile rate to eligible business miles driven on or after July 1, 2026, while applying the 72.5-cent per-mile rate to miles driven between January 1 and June 30, 2026.
- Audit the reimbursement method used—whether mileage-based, actual expense-based, or through a lump-sum allowance—to confirm it fully reimburses employees for necessary business expenses.
- Train employees and supervisors on what qualifies as business miles that qualify for reimbursement and how to report reimbursable travel accurately.
Employers with questions regarding Labor Code section 2802’s reimbursement requirements may contact the authors of this post or their usual employment law counsel at AALRR.
This AALRR publication is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in reaching a conclusion in a particular area of law. Applicability of the legal principles discussed may differ substantially in individual situations. Receipt of this or any other AALRR publication does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Firm is not responsible for inadvertent errors that may occur in the publishing process.
© 2026 Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
The HR Huddle
October 13, 2026 | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Virtual (Zoom)
Add to Calendar
The HR Huddle series is a valuable resource for HR professionals, offering a monthly deep-dive into the latest legal updates, trends, and best practices in employment law. This collaboration with the legal experts of AALRR equips HR professionals and business leaders with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of the workplace, ensuring they stay ahead in a field that's constantly evolving. In this series, here insights and best practices on topics related to compliance, policy-making, and employee relations, these webinars are designed to strengthen the skills necessary for the dynamic and demanding world of human resources.
The HR Huddle Occurs Every 2nd Tuesday.
There is NO COST TO YOU!
Annual Sponsor
Navigate the future with an insurance broker who’s on your side, protecting assets and foreseeing challenges. So when the future arrives, you’ll be ready.
