California Legal Updates

To view all legal updates, visit our Resources page and select the Legal Updates tab at the top.

If you're an existing ComplianceHR client, you can access these updates and robust links to learn more about each of these changes through the PolicySmart™ solution.

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California Legal Updates:

November 2024

• California Amends Fair Employment and Housing Act to Clarify it Does Not Prohibit Local Antidiscrimination Laws
• California Amends Fair Employment and Housing Act to Create Protections for “Intersectionality,” or the Combination of Two or More Protected Categories — Now Includes Updated Policy
• California Expands Paid Sick Leave Uses for Crime Victims and Agricultural Employees, and Changes Unpaid Leave Standards for Victims–Now Includes Updated Policy
• California Amends Short Term Disability and Paid Family Leave Laws to Allow Claim Filing in Advance–Includes Updated Short-Term Disability Insurance Policy
• California Increases Family Temporary Disability Insurance and Short-Term Disability Insurance Weekly Benefit Amount–Now Includes Updated Policies
• California Amends Unruh Civil Rights Act

October 2024

• Los Angeles County Enacts Predictive Scheduling Ordinance–Policy Updates Forthcoming
• California Expands Paid Sick Leave Uses for Crime Victims and Agricultural Employees, and Changes Unpaid Leave Standards for Victims–Now Includes Updated Policy
• California Limits the Discretion Employers Have to Insist on a Driver’s License Even for Jobs that Require Driving for Work
• California Eliminates Employers’ Ability to Require Employees to Use Vacation Before They Receive State Paid Family Leave Benefits
• California Enacts Law Regulating Employment Agreement Provisions on Digital Replicas of Voice or Likeness

September 2024

• California’s Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Regulation Takes Immediate Effect–Now Includes Updated Policy
• California to Require Venture Capital Firms to Report Demographic Information
• California Amends Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act
• California Enacts Nation’s First General Industry Workplace Violence Prevention Safety Requirements for Employers
• Governor Signs Amendments to Expand, and Better Align, Paid Sick Leave Requirements Throughout California–Policy Update Forthcoming
• California Amends Law Regulating Licensure to Carry Concealed Firearms
• California Removes Hotel Exception from Law on Smoking
• California Extends Recall Rights for COVID-19 Layoffs
• California Establishes New Leave for Reproductive Loss–Includes New Policy
• Los Angeles County Enacts Predictive Scheduling Ordinance–Policy Updates Forthcoming

August 2024

• California’s Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Regulation Takes Immediate Effect–Policy Update Forthcoming
• California Supreme Court Upholds Proposition 22
• “New PAGA” Brings Guarded Optimism to California Employers
• California Amends Whistleblower Protection Act Notice Requirement
• California Amends Workers’ Compensation Notice Requirement, Adding New Information to Required Notice

July 2024

• California Enacts Nation’s First General Industry Workplace Violence Prevention Safety Requirements for Employers (effective Jul 01, 2024)
• “New PAGA” Brings Guarded Optimism to California Employers (effective Jul 01, 2024)
• California Restaurants Must Identify Service Fees as Part of Listed Prices

May 2024

• California Extends Recall Rights for COVID-19 Layoffs
• California Establishes New Leave for Reproductive Loss–Includes New Policy
• California to Require Venture Capital Firms to Report Demographic Information

April 2024

• County of Los Angeles Enacts a Sweeping Fair Chance Ordinance for the Unincorporated Areas of the County that Far Exceeds Federal and California Law–Includes Posting Requirement

March 2024

• Time for Employers to Complete California Privacy Rights Act Compliance as Court of Appeal Lifts Injunction on Enforcement
• California Civil Rights Department Issues Clarifications on California Pay Data Reports
• Continuing Privacy Headache for Ordering Criminal Background Checks in California
• Court Enjoins Enforcement of California Privacy Rights Act Regulations (effective 03/29/24)

January 2024

• California Amends Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (effective 01/01/24)
• California Amends Law Regulating Licensure to Carry Concealed Firearms (effective 01/01/24)
• California Clarifies Restrictions on Noncompetes (effective 01/01/24)
• California Establishes New Leave for Reproductive Loss–Includes New Policy (effective 01/01/24)
• California Extends Recall Rights for COVID-19 Layoffs (effective 01/01/24)
• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Personal Use of Cannabis (effective 01/01/24)
• California Removes Hotel Exception from Law on Smoking (effective 01/01/24)
• Governor Signs Amendments to Expand, and Better Align, Paid Sick Leave Requirements Throughout California–Updated Policy Now Available (effective 01/01/24)
• Updated California Paid Sick and Safe Leave FAQs Address January 1, 2024 Changes (effective 01/01/24)
• Berkeley, California Adopts Fair Work Week Measures–Now Includes Sample Policy (effective 01/12/24)
• Updated California Paid Sick and Safe Leave FAQs Address January 1, 2024 Changes
• Governor Signs Amendments to Expand, and Better Align, Paid Sick Leave Requirements Throughout California–Updated Policy Now Available

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November 2023

• California Enacts Nation’s First General Industry Workplace Violence Prevention Safety Requirements for Employers
• California Amends Law Regulating Licensure to Carry Concealed Firearms
• California Amends Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act
• California Establishes New Leave for Reproductive Loss–Includes New Policy
• Governor Signs Amendments to Expand, and Better Align, Paid Sick Leave Requirements Throughout California–Policy Update Forthcoming
• California Extends Recall Rights for COVID-19 Layoffs
• California to Require Venture Capital Firms to Report Demographic Information

October 2023

• California Amends Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act
• Governor Signs Amendments to Expand, and Better Align, Paid Sick Leave Requirements Throughout California--Policy Update Forthcoming
• California Enacts Nation’s First General Industry Workplace Violence Prevention Safety Requirements for Employers
• California Amends Law Regulating Licensure to Carry Concealed Firearms
• California Removes Hotel Exception from Law on Smoking

September 2023

• California Amends Regulations Governing Criminal History Inquiries
• California Supreme Court’s Expansion of “Employer” under FEHA Could Have Implications for AI Regulation
• Los Angeles Adopts Rules Implementing Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance
• California Amends Tax-Related Notice Requirements

August 2023

• Los Angeles Expands Health and Safety Anti-Retaliation Provisions
• Court Enjoins Enforcement of California Privacy Rights Act Regulations

July 2023

• Los Angeles Enacts Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance (effective 07/01/23)
• California Issues CPRA Regulations--Updated to Include Littler Publication on Compliance Efforts Before June 30, 2023 Deadline

May 2023

• Los Angeles, California Passes Fair Workweek Ordinance Applicable to Retailers–Now Includes Sample Policy
• California Issues CPRA Regulations
• New San Francisco Law Requires Supplemental Compensation During Military Leave–Now Includes Sample Policy
• Los Angeles Enacts Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance
• California Regulations Updated to Reflect New Agency Name and Recent Amendments to California Laws

April 2023

• Los Angeles, California Passes Fair Workweek Ordinance Applicable to Retailers--Now Includes Sample Policy (effective 04/01/23)
• New San Francisco Law Requires Supplemental Compensation During Military Leave--Now Includes Sample Policy
• Los Angeles Enacts Freelance Worker Protections Ordinance
• California Regulations Updated to Reflect New Agency Name and Recent Amendments to California Laws
• Cal/OSHA’s Non-Emergency COVID-19 Regulation Is Approved and in Effect for Next Two Years
• Ninth Circuit Eliminates Obstacles to Enforcement of Employment Arbitration Agreements in California
• San Francisco Issues Paid Military Leave FAQs
• Berkeley, California Adopts Fair Work Week Measures--New Policy Forthcoming

March 2023

• Cal/OSHA’s Non-Emergency COVID-19 Regulation Is Approved and in Effect for Next Two Years
• Ninth Circuit Eliminates Obstacles to Enforcement of Employment Arbitration Agreements in California
• San Francisco Issues Paid Military Leave FAQs
• Berkeley, California Adopts Fair Work Week Measures–New Policy Forthcoming

February 2023

• Los Angeles, California Passes Fair Workweek Ordinance Applicable to Retailers--Includes Posting Requirement
• California Labor Commissioner Releases Limited Guidance on Pay Transparency Law
• New San Francisco Law Requires Supplemental Compensation During Military Leave--New Policy Forthcoming (effective 02/19/23)
• Los Angeles County Amends Ordinance on Retaliation for Reporting Public Health Violations--Includes Notice Requirement
• Berkeley, California Enacts Fair Workweek Ordinance--Includes Notice Posting Requirement

January 2023

• A New California Law Requires Restroom Access for Individuals with Certain Conditions (effective 01/01/23)
• California Amends CalSavers Program (effective 01/01/23)
• California Amends Law on Wage Garnishments (effective 01/01/23)
• California Enacts New Law Providing Time Off for Bereavement–Now Includes Sample Policy (effective 01/01/23)
• California Expands Definition of “Family Member” for CFRA and Paid Sick Leave–Now Includes Updated Policies (effective 01/01/23)
• California Expands Law on Hate Imagery in Places of Employment and Elsewhere (effective 01/01/23)
• California Extends COVID-19-Related Workers’ Compensation Provisions (effective 01/01/23)
• California Law Establishes New Protections for Employees During States of Emergency (effective 01/01/23)
• California Law Protects People From Civil or Criminal Liability Related to Reproductive Health (effective 01/01/23)
• California Law Requires Reproductive Health Coverage Information (effective 01/01/23)
• California Passes Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (effective 01/01/23)
• California Privacy Rights Act for Employers: The New “Notice at Collection” California Employers Must Distribute to the Workforce (effective 01/01/23)
• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decision-Making–Now Includes Updated Policy (effective 01/01/23)
• California Provides Arrest and Conviction Record Relief (effective 01/01/23)
• New California Law Addresses Employers’ Use of Certain Devices to Track Employees–Includes Notice Requirement (effective 01/01/23)
• New California Law Requires Annual Pay Data Reports and Including Pay Information in Job Postings (effective 01/01/23)
• Substantial New Privacy Obligations for California Employers: The California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act of 2020 Passes at the Polls (effective 01/01/23)

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2022 California Legal Updates

December 2022

• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decision-Making–Now Includes Updated Policy
• California Enacts New Law Providing Time Off for Bereavement–Now Includes Sample Policy
• California Expands Definition of “Family Member” for CFRA and Paid Sick Leave–Now Includes Updated Policies

November 2022

• California Enacts New Law Providing Time Off for Bereavement–Now Includes Sample Policy
• California Extends COVID-19-Related Workers’ Compensation Provisions
• California Law Requires Reproductive Health Coverage Information
• California Provides Arrest and Conviction Record Relief
• A New California Law Requires Restroom Access for Individuals with Certain Conditions
• New California Law Requires Annual Pay Data Reports and Including Pay Information in Job Postings
• California Extends COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Through 2022, Makes Small Amendment and Offers Grants for Smaller Employers–Includes Updated Policy
• California Expands Definition of “Family Member” for CFRA and Paid Sick Leave–Policy Updates Forthcoming
• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decision-Making–Now Includes Updated Policy
• New California Law Addresses Employers’ Use of Certain Devices to Track Employees–Includes Notice Requirement
• California Law Establishes New Protections for Employees During States of Emergency
• California Increases Family Temporary Disability Insurance Weekly Benefit Amount
• California Amends Law on Wage Garnishments View Post

October 2022

• California Expands Law on Hate Imagery in Places of Employment and Elsewhere
• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Personal Use of Cannabis
• California Prohibits Discrimination Based on Reproductive Health Decision-Making
• California Passes Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act
• San Francisco Voters Adopt Permanent Public Health Emergency Leave Measure–Now Includes Sample Policy
• California Extends COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Through 2022, Makes Small Amendment and Offers Grants for Smaller Employers–Includes Updated Policy
• California Amends Law on Wage Garnishments
• A New California Law Requires Restroom Access for Individuals with Certain Conditions
• California Increases Family Temporary Disability Insurance Weekly Benefit Amount
• New California Law Addresses Employers’ Use of Certain Devices to Track Employees–Includes Notice Requirement
• California Law Requires Reproductive Health Coverage Information
• New California Law Requires Annual Pay Data Reports and Including Pay Information in Job Postings
• The California Family Rights Act Will Now Cover Bereavement Leave–Policy Updates Forthcoming
• California Expands Law on Hate Imagery in Places of Employment and Elsewhere
• California Law Establishes New Protections for Employees During States of Emergency
• California Expands Definition of “Family Member” for CFRA and Paid Sick Leave–Policy Updates Forthcoming
• California Provides Arrest and Conviction Record Relief
• California Extends COVID-19-Related Workers’ Compensation Provisions
• California Law Protects People From Civil or Criminal Liability Related to Reproductive Health

September 2022

• California Amends CalSavers Program
• Inflation Disrupts California’s Minimum Wage Rate Schedule, Prompts Pay Increases for Non-Exempt and Exempt Employees in 2023, and Impacts Other California Laws
• San Francisco Adopts Final Rules Implementing the Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance–Includes New Handbook Notice Requirement
• Panic Buttons and Workload Limits: Los Angeles Hotel Workers Get New Protections
• California Passes Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act

August 2022

• Glendale, CA Institutes Hotel Worker Protections, Including Panic Buttons, Workload Limits, Leave and Accommodations
• West Hollywood, California Passes Comprehensive Ordinance Establishing a Local Minimum Wage and Requiring Paid and Unpaid Leave–Now Includes Sample Policy
• Panic Buttons and Workload Limits: Los Angeles Hotel Workers Get New Protections
• Inflation Disrupts California’s Minimum Wage Rate Schedule, Prompts Pay Increases for Non-Exempt and Exempt Employees in 2023, and Impacts Other California Laws

July 2022

• California Department of Public Health Order Alters “Close Contact” and “Infectious Period” Definitions Under Cal/OSHA COVID ETS
• San Francisco Voters Adopt Permanent Public Health Emergency Leave Measure–Sample Policy Forthcoming

 

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