California - General

California’s privacy agency has proposed regulations on automated decisionmaking technology, risk assessments, and cybersecurity that would pose heavy burdens on many employers regarding their California applicants, employees, or independent contractors. Common uses of automated decisionmaking techn

California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 3234, which becomes effective on January 1, 2025, imposes new disclosure duties on employers conducting voluntary audits on child labor practices. The scope of the new law is unclear, and further guidance from state labor authorities is expected. Until such guidance i

By: New California Laws Regulating Privacy and Artificial Intelligence In September, Gavin Newsom signed a host of new legislation into law, including two bills – AB 3030 and SB 1223 , designed to help regulate health data and generative AI in the healthcare space. SB 1223 is a less highlighted bill

By: California Court of Appeal Supports Employers’ Fight Against “Headless” PAGA Actions In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court published its decision in Viking River Cruises v. Moriana ( Viking River ), which was hailed as a “Big Win for California Employers.” The decision allowed for partial enforcement

California Captive Audience Ban At the end of September, Governor Newsom signed SB 399, the California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act (“Act”), which was discussed in this blog post. This new law, which will take

In this episode, Jen explains why you need to be careful administering modified duty programs.

Join us for a comprehensive, complimentary webinar on November 20, 2024, from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (Pacific), presented by CDF Partners Mark S. Spring and Nicole Legrottaglie Wohl .

By: California Employers: Are You Ready for the New Laws of 2025? The California legislature is never dormant when it comes to enacting new laws for California employers. This year, the statutes are less numerous than most other years, but there are still some important new changes that all Californ

On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) No. 729 into law, expanding fertility insurance coverage in California. This historic measure marks a significant shift in reproductive health policy and aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with fertility treatments f

During its most recent term, the California Supreme Court issued several decisions that may affect California employers. We summarize those rulings below. Clarification on Compensable Time The Court took up an appeal from the Ninth Circuit in

The SECURE Act/SECURE Act 2.0 In 2019, the federal Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was passed with the purpose of helping employees save for retirement. In 2022, Congress amended the law to

On June 29, 2024, Governor Newsom signed into law an amendment to California Code 1770, clarifying the scope of SB 478. Under SB 478 and previously published guidance from the attorney general, California restaurants were effectively prohibited from charging service fees or other surcharges, which m

In October 2023, California enacted three laws that sought to impose broad new climate-related disclosure requirements on many companies conducting business in the state.

By: LWDA Publishes PAGA Frequently Asked Questions The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (“LWDA”) recently published Frequently Asked Questions pertaining to the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) and the recent amendments that impact PAGA claims after June 19, 2024. Previously, CD

In the wake of this summer’s legislative Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) reforms, the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) has released a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page on its website to explain the

Following other states and cities across the nation, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 988, the Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA), into law on September 28, 2024. This new law aims to provide greater protections to freelance workers ( e.g. , “independent contractors”).

Following the lead of other California cities and counties, the County of San Diego recently passed a local fair chance ordinance restricting the use of criminal history in employment decisions. Effective October 10, 2024, employers that have five or more employees and are located or doing business

By: A Reminder to California Employers: Time Off to Vote Notice Requirement Approaching on October 26 With the 2024 election fast approaching in a few short weeks, California employers should refresh themselves on complying with the state’s voting leave and posting requirements for employees. Employ

By: San Diego’s New Fair Chance Ordinance In keeping with the recent proliferation of fair chance legislation at the state and local levels, effective October 10, 2024, businesses with five or more employees who carry out business in unincorporated areas of San Diego County are subject to San Diego