California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued Executive Order N-6-26, a “first-in-the-nation” order aimed at preparing workers, businesses, and communities for potential workforce disruption associated with artificial intelligence. While the order does not create immediate new compliance obligations for employers, it is an important development for California businesses because it previews where state policy, regulation
Ensuring Compliant California Job Postings for the New Year
The complexities of California employment law begin not when an employer extends an offer, but as soon as they decide to post a job opening. Employers should ensure compliance with California’s job posting and hiring requirements in 2026.
Pay Scale
California law requires employers with 15 or more employees to include a pay scale in
Senate Bill 617: California Expands CalWARN Notice Requirements
Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 617, which expands the information employers are required to include under the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (CalWARN). Employers are now required to state whether they plan to coordinate services for affected employees through the local workforce development board (LWDB), another entity, or not at
California Supreme Court Cases Employers Should Watch in 2025
The California Supreme Court issued several important decisions in 2024 about issues such as the application of PAGA to public employees and the definition of “hours worked.”
Several cases are pending before the state’s high court. Here are the highlights and what the cases could mean for employers in the Golden State.
Brown v.
The Civil Rights Department’s Upcoming Regulation Updates on Automated Decision Making
The California Civil Rights Council has been working on proposed regulation revisions to include automated decision-making in the requirements under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The Council met on October 17, 2024, for public comment on the most recent version of the regulations and voted to extend the comment period to 30 days, though
San Diego County Enacts Fair Chance Ordinance for Unincorporated Areas of the County
San Diego County recently passed its own Fair Chance Ordinance which takes effect on October 10, 2024. The ordinance applies to businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County. Similar to the Los Angeles County ordinance, it requires employers to assess the risk presented by an applicant’s criminal history in relation to
Assembly Bill 2499: California Amends Jury, Court, and Victim Time Off Provisions
On September 29, 2024, the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2499, expanding the list of crimes for which employees can take time off and allowing employees to take protected time off to assist family members who are victims of specified crimes. The new law also permits the use of state paid sick leave for
Los Angeles County Passes Fair Chance Ordinance That Applies to Unincorporated Areas of the County
At the end of February, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance adding several compliance requirements to the California Fair Chance Act requirements for employers considering the criminal history of applicants and employees in making employment decisions.
The Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO) applies to employers with 5 or more employees in unincorporated
Reminders About California’s Fair Chance Act
California’s Fair Chance Act also known as the “Ban the Box” law took effect in January 2018. It generally prohibits employers with five or more employees from asking about your conviction history before making you a job offer. In 2021, California’s Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) announced new efforts
Compensation for Food Handler Certification in California
In October, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 476, which requires food facility employers to pay an employee for any cost associated with the employee obtaining a food handler card, considering the time it takes for the employee to complete the training and certification program to be compensable as “hours worked.”
Under the Health