Help California understand what you need to grow

California is suffering high unemployment and a large state budget deficit. Your decisions to hire employees and make new investments in California will determine how soon we return to prosperity and balanced budgets.

This survey will help state leaders understand how California's regulatory environment impacts your profitability, investments, and hiring plans.

Thanks for your help. Your answers are confidential.

How will these laws and regulations impact your future decisions to make investments or keep workers in California:

Wage and hour overtime laws

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

California Minimum Wage law

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Meal period law

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Workers compensation

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

California Family Rights Act (California medical leave law)

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Proposition 65 requirements

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Land use regulations, including California Environmental Quality Act requirements

Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
No effect or don't know
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

OptionalA regulation, law or fee that applies to my California operation but not to competitors in other states:

Explain here:
Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

OptionalOther law or regulation:

Explain here:
Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

OptionalOther law or regulation:

Explain here:
Very harmful
Somewhat harmful
Somewhat helpful
Very helpful

Rank the top three conditions that discourage you from retaining/adding employees, or making new investments in California

Only the first option is required.
First
Second
Third
 
Risk of litigation for disciplining or firing low-performing employees
Length of time or cost to obtain permit or license
Cost of labor (not including workers compensation)
Costs of insurance (including workers compensation)
Availability of skilled workers
Availability of college graduates
Electricity costs
State income or corporate taxes
Possibility of future California laws or regulations that add excessive costs
None or reason not listed. Explain below:

Check any of the following that you have experienced since January 2005 and provide comments (optional):

I have paid an unjustified fine/or settled a frivolous lawsuit because it was cheaper than fighting it.

Yes
No
Unknown

An agency took too long to issue a permit, refund or license.

Yes
No
Unknown

I was subject to a conflicting, inconsistent or duplicative regulation.

Yes
No
Unknown

I paid fees or complied with one or more regulations that are out of date, no longer useful or relevant

Yes
No
Unknown

I complied with a regulation that other companies are avoiding without penalty.

Yes
No
Unknown

I was subject to a regulation that is needlessly restrictive -- the purpose could be accomplished in another way

Yes
No
Unknown

I was penalized for noncompliance with a regulation I didn't know about

Yes
No
Unknown

I spent too much time and/or money trying to understand regulations or filling out forms

Yes
No
Unknown

I had trouble understanding a regulation and there was no clear guidance from the agency

Yes
No
Unknown

Rank the top three attributes that help you maintain operations in California:

First
Second
Third
 
Great location to reach customers and access suppliers
Highly skilled technical workforce
Access to college graduates
Competitive costs of doing business
Effective and fair regulatory climate
High quality of life
State's environmental policies
Difficult to relocate to other states or countries
None or reason not listed. Explain below:

Will the attributes you selected above encourage you to make new investments and/or hire workers in California despite challenging state-specific laws and regulations?

Yes
No
Maybe

Elaborate further on challenges and opportunities operating in California:

Optional
Your information will remain confidential.

Your Name
Your Email
Company name
Industry
Facility ZIP Code
Facility ZIP Code
if additional facility in Calif.
Facility ZIP Code
if additional facility in CA
Calif. employees today
Years doing business in Calif

How has your California workforce changed in the last year?

Growth:   less than 4.9%   5 to 10%   More than 10%
No change:
Decline:   less than 4.9%   5 to 10%   More than 10%

Do you plan to grow your employment by more than 10% in California in the next five years?

Yes
No
Maybe

Do you compete against companies with facilities outside of California?

Yes
No
Don't know

Does your company have additional facilities in U.S. states other than California?

Yes
No

If you were not already in California, would you consider locating a new business here?

Yes
No