Wage Law

The minimum monthly salary for California sheepherders is currently $1,422.52, up from $1,333.20 in 2007. Wages paid to sheepherders may not be offset by meals or lodging provided by the employer. Those are pretty modest levels, given the hours a sheepherder works.

The good news for the sheepherders is that the employer can't get away with paying them sheepherder wages and making them do tasks other than the herding of sheep.

Any employer or any other person acting on behalf of the employer who employs sheepherders and who requires them to engage in non-sheepherding duties shall be subject to the following penalties: (1) Initial violations—a civil penalty of one week’s pay computed on a basis of a 60 hour workweek and a wage of n less than the current minimum wage in effect. (2) Second violation—a civil penalty of one month’s pay computed on a basis of a 252 hour month and a wage of no less than the current minimum wage in effect. (3) Third and subsequent violation—a civil penalty equal to the cost of the contract of the approved “H2A” job order.

Bringing tidings of joy cannot be made part of the job description.

Merry Christmas nonetheless.