Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments
The Labor Commissioner has published a model Workplace “Know Your Rights” Notice pursuant to Senate Bill 294 (SB 294), also known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act. This Act introduces annual notice requirements and new rules related to employee arrests or detentions.
Beginning February 1, 2026, and every year thereafter, all California…
On October 12, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 294, which requires employers in California to provide a stand-alone written notice of worker rights to each new employee when hired, and annually to all current employees. It also tasks the Labor Commissioner with developing and annually updating a template notice and related educational…
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office, the agency that enforces a wide range of the state’s labor laws, has awarded $8.55 million in grants to 16 local prosecutors to step up enforcement of labor laws. This funding, part of the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program, is designed to help local governments prosecute wage payment violations and…
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits discrimination both in the selection of employees and during employment based on certain protected characteristics. Federal law provides similar protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Consequently, California employers must ensure their employee selection process is free from discrimination.
Any selection policy or…
The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (California Assembly Bill 241 and Senate Bill 1015), enacted in 2013, is a California law that grants overtime pay rights to personal attendants who were not previously entitled to overtime pay under California law. Personal attendants covered by this law are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their…
Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB 2299), the Labor Commissioner was required to develop a model list of employee rights and responsibilities under existing whistleblower laws.
The Labor Commissioner had previously issued a sample notice which included a disclaimer that the Labor Commissioner did not guarantee its posting fulfilled the requirements of California law.
Recently…
As of September 24, 2024, Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 1105, which expands existing paid sick leave provisions to allow agricultural employees to use paid sick leave for additional reasons.
These changes take effect on January 1, 2025.
SB 1105 supplements the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 to require…
California’s Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2299 on July 15, 2024, which requires the state’s Labor Commissioner to develop a model list of employee rights and responsibilities under existing whistleblower laws. Employers will be required to post this notice beginning January 1, 2025. The notice must be written in a font larger than 14 point…
Senate Bill (SB) 848, scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2024, requires employers with 5 or more employees to provide employees who have worked for at least 30 days with up to five days of reproductive loss leave.
Under the new law, it is unlawful for a covered employer to refuse to…
