What’s New?

Earlier this year, we covered Assembly Bill 2499, a significant new law expanding workplace protections for victims of crime. As of January 1, 2025, California employers have several new obligations—including providing written notice to employees about their rights...

The past few weeks have been busy with EEO developments in California and under federal law. California—CRD Issues a New Age Discrimination Fact Sheet In May 2025, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) issued a fact sheet addressing the legal protections...

With summer unofficially starting and temperatures in areas throughout California recently reaching near or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Cal/OSHA is urging employers to help protect workers from heat illness at both outdoor and indoor worksites. Because heat illness...

Since April 2024, state employees have been required to return to the office at least two days per week. However, in March of this year, Governor Newsom announced that, effective July 1, 2025, most state employees must be onsite four days per week. Limited telework...

California’s public policy favors the workers’ compensation system as the preferred means to remedy employees’ work-related injuries. The system is based on the “compensation bargain,” under which employees give up the right to sue for personal injuries occurring in...

Since the COVID-19 pandemic several years ago, employers have permitted employees to work remotely (telework) or work a hybrid schedule. Recently, however, employers are increasingly requiring employees to return to in-person work. These return-to-office initiatives...

On April 21, the California Court of Appeal issued a significant ruling in favor of employers. In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, the court held that revocable meal period waivers prospectively signed by employees are enforceable, unless the waivers are unconscionable...

In 2004, California enacted the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which allows employees to sue their employer on behalf of the state for certain Labor Code violations against all aggrieved employees. Prior to the much-needed 2024 reforms, discussed below,...

Federal law requires that every employer who recruits, refers for a fee, or hires an individual for employment in the U.S. must complete a Form I-9. This employment eligibility verification form assists employers in verifying an employee’s identity and employment...

Employers often receive subpoenas demanding the records of a current or former employee, even if there is no pending litigation. The current or former employee may be involved in litigation, and one of the parties needs documents that are in the employer’s possession....