California employers face one of the country’s most complex employment law environments and keeping up with new legislation can be as challenging as complying with it. During the SHRM26 session “California HR Minefields: What’s New, What’s Next, What’s Costly,” Joseph Beachboard, an attorney with Beachboard Consulting Group in Los Angeles, and Jennifer Shaw, founder of Shaw Law Group in Sacramento, walked attendees through the newest compliance requirements, legislation on the horizon, and the workplace issues that continue to generate some of California’s most expensive lawsuits. Throughout the session, the speakers emphasized that preparation — not panic — is the key to reducing legal risk.
The Know Your Rights Act (SB 294) requires employers to provide employees with notice of certain legal rights before workplace investigations. Beachboard described the requirement as “a sort-of Miranda rights” for employees, explaining that the law is intended to ensure workers understand their rights before participating in investigative interviews.
Although California has published a sample notice, Beachboard cautioned employers against assuming the state’s version is the best option. “We actually recommend you use a different notice” than the guide California offers since it suggests including a lot of unnecessary information, he said, noting that employers can often meet the legal requirements with a more streamlined document.
Shaw added...
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