When California enacted the labor law known as AB5 in 2020, AV production companies found it difficult to stay in compliance. They worried about missing requirements, losing money, and even being fined for non-compliance. Given the complexities of the new law, we knew that we would need to rise to the occasion to help our clients stay compliant when producing events in the Golden State. 

With the new laws, there was some initial confusion around developing quotes for California-based projects. It became harder to understand California-specific overtime pay and meal and rest breaks. Plus, it was more challenging to pay freelancers the standard day rates they’re used to, adding to the friction. However, through our work with PayrollCrew, we’ve been able to introduce payroll solutions to remedy these issues.

PayrollCrew Calculator: The Latest California-Inspired Feature

Our partnership with PayrollCrew has enabled us to provide our clients with payroll functions that integrate seamlessly with our existing AV freelancer management software, without needing to add the freelancers you hire to your own employee payroll system. The new PayrollCrew Calculator is the latest tool to make working with California freelancers a more streamlined experience. 

This tool is a payroll management calculator that takes the guesswork out of billing end clients. It provides you with visibility into how California calculates service hours, so you can confidently generate a quote that matches your needs. Instead of scrambling to figure out what you need to do to adhere to California laws, you can focus on what you do best: producing high-quality, memorable live events that wow your clients.

Day Rate Solutions to Meet the Needs of You and Your Techs

Another aspect we’ve focused on has been introducing payroll tools that help with the day rates specified under the AB5 law, as this was another large obstacle for production companies. While it’s standard practice to pay freelancers a day rate, California payroll laws have made that much more difficult. For example, the hourly rate when divided out must adhere to California’s minimum wage laws. Freelancers must be paid overtime if they work more than 8 hours per day. 

Now, PayrollCrew provides AV production companies with solutions to pay 4, 5, 8, and 10-hour day rates that comply with California payroll requirements. The 4 and 5 hour day rates allow for an AV technician to work a half day if necessary. These pay rules remove the complexities associated with negotiating day rates and managing payroll for freelancers in California.

Stay Protected with Mertzcrew’s Freelancer Management Software

Mertzcrew’s freelancer management software has been designed with you in mind. Your goal is to create fantastic events for your clients, so we’ve provided everything you need in one place. It’s our priority to seek out pain points in the AV industry and provide solutions to make your job as easy as possible. That means:

• Helping you find and hire experienced freelancers in California and anywhere else you produce live events. You’ll get access to our list of vetted freelancers, and you can use public or private broadcasting to find exactly the right AV technicians for your needs.
• Stay in compliance with all laws and regulations, including those specific to California: day rates, taxation, and more. You’ll be able to avoid issues related to non-compliance, including problems with employment, contracting, and California state taxes.
• Create compliant contracts for the AV technicians you hire and track contracts easily using our intuitive platform.
• Create and stick to a budget for hiring freelancers, using PayrollCrew Calculator to calculate overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and service hours. 
• Schedule the freelancers you hire and manage their availability to work on your productions.
• Communicate with freelancers and your entire crew before, during, and after productions to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
• Keep track of insurance to protect you and your freelancers. You can also use Mertzcrew to get insurance quotes as needed.
• Improve the scalability of your business by minimizing administrative costs and tasks related to freelancer management.

We help our clients save time and money, improving crew performance and making sure you remain in compliance when producing events. We’re with you every step of the way, leaving you the time and capacity to focus on creating spectacular live events on behalf of your clients.

Conclusion

Because AB5 requires companies that hire freelancers to comply with the same rules as they would if they were a California employer, it’s essential to use the right software to help you remain in compliance and avoid regulatory infractions that could cost you money. Here at Mertzcrew, our partnership with PayrollCrew makes it effortless to do so.

Our robust set of freelancer management tools enable you to work with freelancers without wasting time or money. With the PayrollCrew Calculator, you can see exactly what you’re billing for, ensuring it’s inline with proper California service hour calculations. In addition, our 4, 5, 8, and 10-hour day rate solutions allow you to easily bring freelancers on while providing the standard rates they’re familiar with.

Ready to work in California without worrying about compliance or the legal and tax ramifications of working with freelancers? We are here to help. Click here to schedule a free demo of Mertzcrew with PayrollCrew Calculator to see how we can make your job easier!