Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments
In October 2023, California’s Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1076 which added the new Business & Professions Code §16600.1, making it unlawful to impose non-compete clauses on employees – which contractual restrictions already are void under Business & Professions Code §16600.
Under AB 1076, employers must notify current employees and former employees (employed after January…
This summer the California Civil Rights Council approved modified regulations pertaining to California’s Fair Chance Act.
These modifications take effect on October 1, 2023.
Employers should remember the following as these changes take effect.
There are several posting requirements in California for employers and it is important to ensure the appropriate posters are displayed in an area frequented by employees where they may be easily read during the workday.
Two of California’s main administrative agencies that regulate workplace requirements, the Department of Industrial Relations and the California Civil Rights…
Recently the State of Washington passed a law pertaining to warehouse quotas, which was similar to a law California passed in 2021.
California’s law took effect January 1, 2022, and shortly after the effective date the Labor Commissioner published Frequently Asked Questions on the law.
Since the California law is a little over…
In October 2022, Governor Newsom announced the California COVID-19 State of Emergency would end on February 28, 2023. While this will phase out some of the tools the state used in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, it does not mean the end of all COVID-19 regulations and requirements for employers. Three illustrative examples are discussed…
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…
On September 29, 2022, California’s Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2693, which amends and extends COVID-19 workplace notice requirements until January 1, 2024.
Under existing law adopted under AB 685, if an employer receives notice of potential exposure to COVID-19, the employer must provide written notice of the potential exposure within one business…
The current Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) expires at the end of 2022. But Cal/OSHA is not done with COVID-19 regulations. There is a Non-Emergency Regulation in process. The Standards Board recently published its proposed non-emergency regulation and announced a public hearing for September 15, 2022.
Though the proposal is a non-emergency regulation,…
In June, the City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance designed to increase safety protections for hotel workers in hotels, limit daily workload, and raise hotel worker wages.
The new ordinance took effect on August 12, 2022.
Under the ordinance, a hotel employer must place on the back of the entrance door to each…
The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has been in the news lately with a proposed state Proposition seeking to reform it, and the Supreme Court taking up a case regarding PAGA and arbitrations. Though recent developments give hope to employers that some limitations will be placed on PAGA claims, the filing of PAGA…
