New Law Explicitly Prohibits Employers From Holding Mandatory Meetings to Discuss Religion or Politics.

The California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2025, essentially seeks to give employees the freedom to make up their own minds on religion and politics without feeling pressured or intimidated by their employer. This new law makes it illegal for employers to take any adverse action against any employee if the employee chooses not to attend an employer’s meeting discussing politics or religion.

Employers, EmploymentKathleenFebruary 25, 2025employees, employment discrimination, employer, California employer requirements, California Worker Freedom Act, California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act, mandatory meetings

California Emergency Workers Receive More Protection from Physical Violence in 2025

A new bill (Assembly Bill 977) has been signed into law by Governor Newsom and recently took effect on January 1, 2025. This new law increases the punishments for any person who assaults or batters a doctor, nurse, or other hospital worker in the emergency department from a maximum of 6 months to a maximum of one year imprisonment.

Employers, EmploymentKathleenFebruary 13, 2025employees, employer records, Employee lawsuit, employer, California employer requirements

California Employers Must Notify Employees That Their Non-Compete Agreements or Clauses are Void By February 2024!

California employers are tasked with new notice requirements! Employers must give notice to all current and former employees employed after January 1, 2022 whose contracts included a noncompete clause (or who were required to enter a noncompete agreement) that such clauses or agreements are void. This notice must be given to the employees by February 14, 2024. The notice has to be individualized for each employee, in writing, and shall be delivered to the employee’s or former employee’s last known address and email address. This is a significant task and employers should plan their compliance ahead of time.

Employers, Employment, Intellectual PropertyKathleenJanuary 19, 2024California Business and Professions Code section 16600.1., Non-Compete Agreements, California employer requirements, California Non-Compete Agreements, California Business and Professions Code, employer, California employer recordkeeping, California employment records, employer records, California employers, California businesses, AB 1076

California Forces Employers to Increase the Number of Mandatory Paid Sick Days From Three to Five Days.

California employers, beware! On October 4, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 616 into law which requires employers to increase the number of mandatory paid sick days from 3 to 5 days. This new law will go into effect on January 1, 2024.

Employers, Employment, RestaurantsKathleenOctober 12, 2023mandatory paid sick days, sick days, senate bill 616, employer, employment, employees, California employers, California employer requirements, California businesses, California employment records, Covid-19, California employer recordkeeping

Ringing in the New Year with Higher Hourly Rates: California’s Statewide Minimum Wage Set to Rise to $15.50 For ALL Employers on January 1, 2023.

Beginning on January 1, 2023, minimum wage is set to increase to $15.50 per hour for all California employers- regardless of size. Small businesses will now be paying employees $1.50 more per hour, which is approximately a 10% raise.

Employers, Employment, RestaurantsKathleenDecember 15, 2022minimum wage, minimum wage increase, hourly rates, California hourly rates, California minimum wage, Federal minimum wage, California employer requirements, California employers

California Employers: California increased your record keeping responsibilities by requiring annual pay reports and will impose heavy fines for your failure to keep up! (Part I)

California’s new payscale transparency law now requires employers to also keep keep records and submit an annual pay data report on race, ethnicity, sex, and pay. If employers fail to file annual pay data reports, they may be hit with hefty fines.

Employers, Employment, RestaurantsKathleenDecember 5, 2022sb 1162, pay data reports, EEO-1, employer records, California employment records, California employer requirements, California employer recordkeeping, race pay data report, ethnicity pay data report, sex pay data report, salary range, payscale

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