
Dilemma of the Month: Changing the Terms of Employment
My assistant “Jane” has a reduced work week, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. I agreed to this when she was hired. However, two years later, I now need her to work more hours. I don’t need or want to hire an additional person — I just need her to work an 8-hour day. But she doesn’t want to. What can I legally do?

Startup of the Month: Alphapura Robotics
To impact the world, local business seeks to turn trash into 3D treasure
The big idea was garbage.
Frederick Janson was in the garage, taking the trash out of his first house in North Natomas. That was when he noticed how full the blue recycle bin was with plastic containers. He realized these recyclables he was paying somebody to take away could be used as building materials.

Wealth of Options
The Bank will transform a historic landmark into a foodie haven
The historic D.O. Mills Bank building, owned by the Cameron Family since 1922, is in the midst of massive transformation. The bank, slated to open this year, will be a three level 30,000 square-foot culinary destination.

All in the Family
One thing that makes my job so interesting is that Comstock’s isn’t a publication solely focused on disseminating information in the form of news briefs and factoids. We tell stories: of the struggle to succeed, thrills of success, heartbreaks of failure and the quiet fear of finding oneself at a crossroads.

From the Editors: September Business Recap
Comstock’s monthly look at business news in the Capital Region. Want to know what happened in September? Then read on, my friends.

How Sky-High Housing Costs Make California the Poorest State
When the cost of living is factored in, the Golden State has the highest poverty rate in the country. More than 20 percent of its residents struggle to make ends meet, according to recently released Census figures.That’s nearly 8 million people.

Art Exposed: Marianne Bland
Comstock’s interviewed artist Marianne Bland about her artistic direction and recently being named the first recipient of the Gloria Burt Sacramento Region Arts Fellowship.

Don’t Wait to Create Social Media Guidelines
One misstep can spell disaster for your business
Social media is like quicksand. From afar it looks innocent, but one misstep posting the wrong image or making an improper comment can sink your reputation faster than you thought possible. Additionally, while social media can be a powerful tool to reach clients, get media attention and share promotions with your audience, managing it all can be time consuming.

Lawmakers Missed a ‘Green’ Opportunity; Could Consumers Pay the Price?
Environmentalists are accustomed to notching wins in the California Legislature, where their projects often receive a friendly hearing from a supermajority of Democrats and a governor with a laser focus on climate change.

Apple, FitBit Will Join FDA Program Meant to Speed Health Tech
A federal agency that regulates apples wants to make regulations on Apple a little easier.