We also take a look at the popular way friends and family are getting together— the Virtual Happy Hour

Recent Changes for the Agricultural Industry Labor Law

Anyone who has grown up around the ag industry knows how important employees are to farm owners and their businesses. The ability to create a flexible work schedule for laborers plays a major role in a farmer’s success, which is why understanding the specific agricultural labor law updates, and how to maneuver them, is the key to a successful operation in today’s society.

2020 brought a lot of changes in regards to agricultural worker employment laws, one of which changes the definition of overtime altogether. Time and a half is now considered 9 hours in a single workday, and 50 hours in a single work week. California determined that agricultural laborers engage in back breaking work, and need the ability to earn a proper wage in overtime hours. AB1066 intends to lower the requirement for overtime hours more and more over the next four years, and is reinforcing this bill through hefty fines in order to ensure compliance.

HRIQ–HUMAN RESOURCES + PAYROLL 236 Broadway Suite #B,Chico, CA 95928 Shelby@upyourhriq.com | Upyourhriq.com 530.680.4747

A TRIBUTE TO A Simulated Buzz Interestingly, in a world where we’re not able to be close to people has made us closer to people. Be it Zoom, FaceTime, Meet, Room, or Houseparty—friends and family are one invite, phone call, or tap away. That Sunday afternoon phone call, filled with stock questions and answers, has been replaced with face to face encounters at five with filled glasses and real conversation. The “Virtual Happy Hour” emerged as a bona fide countermeasure, not only to drinking alone—since there unfortunately is a name for that—but also a necessary means of fighting loneliness and separation. Whether it's your neighbor six houses away, or your college roommate six states away, the screen and speaker erases distance allowing for nuance and facial expressions to abound with joy.

These sessions often start out with belly laughs, shrugging of shoulders, head shaking, and pointless pointing at the screen. When your best friend is sitting in his favorite chair unaware of not only not being able to hear, or how to resolve the dilemma, he becomes nothing short of hysteria. Then your favorite couple’s scratched and stained table top appears on screen while they ask where everyone is, without knowing how to reverse the camera, is a whole other level of uncontrollable joy. The strength, or lack thereof, of each household’s broadband is also on full display as frozen faces make for awkward exchanges. When all these foibles and blunders conclude, the magic of togetherness takes center stage.

Glasses are raised in non-spoken toasts while ‘hello’s’ and ‘how ya been’ abound. Then, like a scene from a Friday morning kindergarten class, an adult version of “show & tell” takes place. Like that kindergarten class, the other boxes on the screen are fidgeting and jockeying to be the next to present. It’s all part of the magic, the nuance, the familiarity we missed so terribly sheltered in place, seemingly stuck in isolation. Seeing each smile, hearing each update, allowing the conversation to bounce around like a pinball machine, sounds like ordinary chatter when together.

There remains one additional lighthearted byproduct of these virtual visits. Randomly across the screen, whether it’s a FaceTime with another couple or multiple parties stacked together in box-like fashion, a person will disappear only to return with a full glass of whatever they emptied. Once a single happy hour participant leaves, the dominoes are in place, and one by one the screens empty and fill with refreshed drinks, refreshing the banter. The pandemic will leave change in its wake, including eliminating those dry Sunday afternoon phone calls, replacing them permanently with lively virtual happy hours, dinners, or whatever the occasion calls for. Cheers!

Forgot to grab a magazine? All of our previous publications can be found on issuu.com!

Rotten Smell Sweet Taste

Durian is a unique tropical fruit. It is also known as the world’s smelliest fruit. In Southeast Asia it is so popular it's nicknamed “the king of fruits.” Durian is high in nutrients, containing more than most fruits. Apparently, these facts outweigh a very strong smell described as a combination of sulfur, sewage, fruit, honey, and roasted and rotting onions. Interestingly enough, opinions are mixed about the odorous produce with some people loving it, while others hate it. Stink aside, the durian fruit’s upside far outweighs its flaw. High nutrient content aside, durian also reduces cancer risk, prevents heart disease, fights infection, and lowers blood sugar. Let’s take a closer look at the king of fruits.

First and foremost, it would be a big mistake to expect the durian to be like other fruits. In the West, our fruits are juicy, slightly acidic, and sweet. The durian is a foot long oval, weighing between two and seven pounds, covered in formidable looking spikes. However, this prince of a produce comes with remarkable benefits:

Reduces Cancer Risk. Its antioxidants may neutralize cancer-promoting free radicals. In one study, durian extract prevented breast cancer cells from spreading. Prevents Heart Disease. Several compounds may help reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of hardening of the arteries.

Fights Infection. The rind contains compounds possessing antibacterial and anti-yeast properties.

Lowers Blood Sugar. Durian has a lower glycemic index than other tropical fruits, meaning it may spike blood sugar levels less.

These studies show promise, many tested on animals or in test tubes. No solid claims can be made until the health benefits of durian have been confirmed by controlled studies in people. They still remain as health benefits and the fruit itself will be a valuable addition to your diet.

Cooking with durian includes measuring the ripeness by deciding when to prepare it. This, as you will discover, is a matter of taste. Some like to eat slightly unripe durian before the fruit gains its strong odor and the flesh is still crisp. Many enjoy ripe durian when the odor is strong, but like a banana, before the fruit becomes over-ripe. Split ripe durians should be used immediately, or they will begin to ferment. Working with durian can leave your hands smelling all day. To help remove the smell, run hot water through the durian skin. This will create a very mild lye solution, which, when combined with soap, helps get rid of the smell.

To cut the fruit, place the durian stem side down on a clean cutting surface. Using a large, sharp knife, make a cut through the thick skin on the top of the durian, about three to four inches long. Take care when handling the fruit, since its spiky skin can poke you. As you cut, pull back the skin with your other hand. Use your hands to pull back the skin—it will come off fairly easily. Lay the two halves down on the cutting board. Using a spoon or your hands, remove the large "pods" of fruit and place the fruit on a plate. Use your knife to cut along the seam down the center of the inside shell and you'll find more sections of fruit. Remove these sections with a spoon and add to the plate. Before eating or serving, it's best to remove the large, inedible seeds.

Durian is frequently enjoyed fresh, but is also popular for making candies, sauces, curries, baked goods, drinks, desserts, and more. Recipes abound online for your delight in enjoying the stinkiest king of fruit known to the world.

Inheritance Opportunities And Pitfalls

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ® , FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC

Receiving an inheritance can be complicated. It may come with feelings of sorrow and bitterness of losing a loved one. It can cause division within families, or the windfall can turn long term desires into reality.

Sometimes, heirs want to place extra sentimental value on the money to preserve it like a family heirloom. Other times, it’s seen as an immediate remedy to financial ailments, and in too many cases, it’s spent frivolously like found money.

We’ve helped plenty of clients through the process of inheriting money and deciding its best uses. Below are some thoughts on the matter:

The financial need, not want, most families have

Inheritance can be a major opportunity for an individual. According to the polls, the average American family is in poor shape for retirement, carries credit card debt, and has virtually no rainy day fund. An inheritance can go a long way towards shoring these issues up.

Unfortunately, the statistics show most people who inherit money spend it quickly and frivolously. The money never makes it to a third generation. It’s tempting to increase your lifestyle to match your new funds. The old joke about the beneficiary driving a new car to the funeral isn’t too far from reality.

Allocating the inheritance (i.e. paying debt, making investments, setting aside funds for others, and spending)

Decisions about inherited money should be about increasing a families’ net worth. The big picture focus should be:

1. Decreasing expenses 2. Increasing income Paying down high-interest debt like credit cards, auto loans, or home equity lines works best because the interest expense on debt can compound faster than investments. Once the debt is gone, make sure you’ve got a rainy day fund to protect against unforeseen expenses. Seek also to maximize investments earning passive income.

For individuals receiving a large inheritance, it’s ok to get in touch with your feelings first

Most of the thoughtful individuals we work with take time to understand where the money comes from- They have a level of respect for what it took for their loved one to save and earn it. We’ve had conversations with people who repeatedly say they want to honor the deceased and don’t want to blow the wealth like a lottery winner. With this mindset, they tend to spend it carefully and prioritize investing for the future.

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com