Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments
As of February 3, 2025, most of Cal/OSHA’s COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Standards have officially come to an end. This marks a significant shift for California employers who have been navigating these regulations and their predecessor emergency temporary standards for the past four years.
Despite the expiration of most obligations under this standard, employers are…
Last week, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board approved an emergency temporary standard regarding respirable crystalline silica (RCS). The standard will take effect December 29, 2023.
The emergency temporary standard (ETS)comes after the California Department of Public Health issued an alert in November of worker deaths due to silicosis, which is caused by silica dust entering…
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…
On January 24, 2023, the California Secretary of State completed its verification process and qualified a referendum challenging Assembly Bill (AB) 257, also known as the FAST Recovery Act for the November 2024 ballot. In the meantime, the law will not take effect unless it is approved by voters in the November 2024 election.
Governor…
While the Secretary of State continued to count signatures to determine if a potential referendum challenging the FAST Recovery Act (AB 257) will make it on the ballot, the Sacramento Superior Court has issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the implementation or enforcement of AB 257. The injunction will remain in effect unless and until either:…
While the Secretary of State continued to count signatures to determine if a potential referendum on the FAST Recovery Act (the Act) will make it on the ballot, a lawsuit was filed by a coalition of California small business owners, restaurateurs, franchisees, and related entities seeking to enjoin the enforcement of the Act. …
As we wrap 2022, here a review of some of the changes to California employment law that will continue to affect employers in 2023.
Legislative Changes
New Year, New Minimum Wages for California
California Tightens Rules on Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Management
Cal/OSHA Mandated to Update Heat Illness and Wildfire Smoke Standard
On September 18, 2022, Governor Newsom signed California Assembly Bill (AB) 2188, which makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based upon: (1) a person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, except for preemployment drug…
While the Cal/OSHA Standards Board (Board) has received much more attention in the last two years relating to the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) the Board is turning to some more basic issues pertaining to workplace safety. At its upcoming April 21, 2022 meeting the Board will consider revisions to first aid kit requirements both…
The Department of Industrial Relations’ (DIR) Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF) has announced an initiative to inspect publicly funded construction sites to ensure employers provide worker’s compensation and follow labor laws, including workplace health and safety requirements.
With this new focus, construction employers who work on public works projects should review their workplace compliance to…
