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Tag Archives: employment law
COVID-19 Regulations For California Businesses Have Not All Gone Away – There is a 3rd Revision to Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standards
Summary
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) recently approved the third readoption of the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (the “new ETS”). The new ETS took effect on May 7, 2022, and will remain in effect until December 31, 2022, when Cal/OSHA is expected to replace it with a permanent standard. The majority of the new ETS has not changed. However, the new ETS includes changes in line with the state’s recent direction of relaxing restrictions, and is more aligned with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidance.Read more
Federal Law Now Limits Arbitration Agreements for Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault Claims
A few months ago (10/13/21 Post), we discussed the status of arbitration agreements in California. We explained how, under California’s AB 51, employers are prohibited from requiring employees to sign, as a condition of employment, agreements requiring arbitration of claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (such as sexual harassment) or the California Labor Code (such as claims for wages). We explained that this legislation had been challenged as potentially preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”).Read more
CDPH and LA County Relax Indoor Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Persons
The CDPH and Los Angeles County have updated their rules to allow fully vaccinated persons to enter indoor businesses without wearing masks under certain circumstances.Read more
The Return of Statewide Covid-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and the End of the Statewide Mask Mandate
It’s been a busy week at the Governor’s office …
1. The return of statewide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave
On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB-114, which brings back COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (“SPSL”) through September 30, 2022.
When will the bill take effect?
Quarantine Rules, Mask Requirements, and U.S. Supreme Court Rulings on Mandates
Relaxation of State and Los Angeles County Quarantine Rules
Since our January 4 update, the CDPH and Los Angeles County have updated their guidance on quarantine (i.e., requirements for persons in close contact with a COVID-19 case).Read more
Statewide Mask Mandate for All Indoor Public Settings
On December 13, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued updated guidance requiring Californians to once again to wear masks indoors in “all indoor public settings,” regardless of vaccination status. The mandate will go into effect December 15, 2021, and will run through January 15, 2022. Los Angeles County and several Bay Area counties already require masks in public settings, so this new mandate will mainly affect about 50% of the state population that lives in counties that currently don’t have their own mask mandate.Read more
Increases in State and Local Minimum Wages and Injunction on Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate
Increase in State Minimum Wage
The California minimum wage will increase effective January 1, 2022. For employers with 25 employees or less, the minimum wage will increase to $14.00 per hour, and for employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will increase to $15.00 per hour.
The minimum wage increase also affects employees who are classified as exempt, who must earn at least twice the state’s minimum wage, AND satisfy the job duties criteria for an exempt position.
Starting January 1, 2022, the minimum salary (gross) that must be paid to exempt employees is as follows:Read more