California’s COVID-19-related rehire protections for hospitality workers – which were set to expire at the end of this year – will now remain in effect until January 1, 2027, thanks to a new bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law on October 3. AB 858 marks the second one-year extension to the state law enacted in 2021 and originally set to sunset in 2024. Since these rules aren’t going anywhere just yet, now is a good time for covered employers to brush up on their obligations. We’ll give you some quick background and five key points to help you stay compliant.
Quick Background
California Labor Code Section 2810.8 was enacted in 2021 in response to the widespread layoffs in the hospitality industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The law aims to provide economic security and job stability for workers disproportionately affected by pandemic-related closures, reductions in force, or another economic non-disciplinary reason.
5 Refresher Points for Hospitality Employers in California
The statute requires covered employers to offer open positions, in order of seniority, to qualified employees who were laid off for a COVID-19-related reason before hiring new workers.
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