Previously, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) had redefined “close contact’ as someone sharing the same indoor airspace with a person who had COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. This definition had caused issues for employers in particular who needed to comply with notice requirements. These
2022
It’s Not a Set Up: Enhanced Workplace Safety Training Requirements for Live Events at Public Venues
As part of the recent legislative session, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1775, which implements new workplace safety training and certification requirements for entertainment events vendors who produce live events at public events venues.
Specifically, any business that contracts with the entertainment events vendor to set up, operate, or tear down a live…
San Francisco’s OLSE Issues FAQs for Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance
In June, San Francisco voters approved Proposition G, which created the Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance (PHELO). The ordinance requires private employers to provide paid leave to employees for “public health emergencies.” The ordinance took effect on October 1, 2022. In conjunction with the effective date, San Francisco’s Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) issued…
Cal/OSHA Mandated to Update Heat Illness and Wildfire Smoke Standard
At the end of the California legislative session, Governor Newsom signed a myriad of employment law bills, including Assembly Bill (AB) 2243, which requires Cal/OSHA to submit to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board a proposal to consider revising the heat illness standard and the wildfire smoke standard for farm workers to…
California Revises Formula for Paid Family Leave and State Disability Insurance Benefits to Assist Lower Wage Earners
After vetoing a similar bill last year, on September 30, 2022, California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 951, which increases wage replacement rates for lower wage earners under the state Paid Family Leave program (PFL) and State Disability Insurance (SDI) programs.
Starting in 2025, workers who earn 70 percent or less than the…
California’s Governor Signs Several New Employment Bills on September 29th
Read more about the new laws affecting employers in California.
California Expands Who an Employee Can Care for Under the CFRA and California Paid Sick Leave Law
Bereavement Leave Now Protected in California
California Passes New Requirements for Call Center Employers…
California Expands Who an Employee Can Care for Under the CFRA and California Paid Sick Leave Law
Beginning January 1, 2023, employees throughout California will be able to use sick leave or take leave under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to care for a “designated person.” Under Assembly Bill (AB) 1041, a designated person is defined as any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is equivalent…
California Prohibits Retaliation Against Employees for Refusal to Report to Work During Emergency Conditions
On September 29,2022, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 1044, which prohibits an employer in the event of an emergency condition from taking or threatening adverse action against any employee for refusing to report to, or leave a workplace or worksite within the affected areas because the employee has a reasonable belief…
Bereavement Leave Now Protected in California
On September 29, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1949, which amends the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) to require covered employers to provide eligible employees with 5 days of bereavement leave.
AB 1949 applies to employers with 5 or more employees nationwide. Under the bill, employees who have been employed…
California Passes New Requirements for Call Center Employers
On September 29, 2022, California passed Assembly Bill (AB) 1601, which requires an employer of customer service employees in a call center to comply with the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (Cal/WARN) requirements prior to a mass layoff, relocation, or termination of employees. Under this bill, a call center employer is prohibited from…