Effective January 1, 2023, a new California statute, AB 1949, requires employers in California to give eligible employees up to five days of unpaid bereavement leave after the death of a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner or parent-in-law.Read more
Change in Definition of Close Contact
What is the change?
The California Department of Public Health has issued an order changing its definition of “close contact” with regard to notifying potentially impacted employees of their exposure to a COVID-19 positive person in the workplace. Effective immediately, “close contact” is now defined as either:Read more
Change In Definition of “Family Member” for CFRA & Sick Leave
A new statute, AB 1041, expands the definition of “family member” for purposes of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and paid sick leave.Read more
In Win For Employers, California Arbitration Agreements Can Be Mandated as a Condition of Employment (For Now)
Employers generally consider arbitration to be a more favorable forum for deciding disputes than litigating in court, though the costs to arbitrate are expensive. For one, juries who find against employers tend to be more generous in their awards than arbitrators. Second, arbitration clauses can include class action waivers, making it hard or impossible for employees to bring class action lawsuits. For these reasons, employers have increasingly required employees to sign mandatory arbitration clauses.Read more
Testing Requirements Rescinded for Health Care Personnel in California
For the past year, the California Department of Public Health has mandated that all health care personnel in healthcare facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they document that they have religious or medical grounds for an exemption. Read more
Increase in City of Los Angeles Health Care Worker Minimum Wages
On June 29, 2022, the Los Angeles City Council approved a minimum wage increase for workers at covered healthcare facilities to $25.00/hour. Mayor Eric Garcetti signed this into law on July 8, 2022. Read more
Increases in Local Minimum Wages and IRS Mileage Rate Coming July 1, 2022
Local Minimum Wages
Employers checking to make sure they pay minimum wage can’t just rely on complying with California minimum wage standards. As we reminded you on December 8, 2021, many local jurisdictions have enacted their own minimum wage rules.Read more