It’s that time of year again—California employers need to prepare for a raft of new laws that become effective in the new year. Below is a brief overview of some of those laws and how employers should prepare for them. All of the laws discussed below become effective on January 1, 2025.

Ban on Forced Work Meetings for Religion and Politics

SB 399: Employers will now be prevented from threatening to discharge, discriminate, retaliate against, or carry out those actions against employees who decline to attend an employer-sponsored meeting, or who decline to participate in, receive, or listen to, communications regarding an employer’s opinions on religious or political matters. The new law defines religious matters as matters “relating to religious affiliation and practice and the decision to join or support any religious organization or association.” Political matters are defined as matters “relating to elections for political office, political parties, legislation, regulation, and the decision to join or support any political party or political or labor organization.” Note this law does not apply to mandatory training to comply with an employer’s legal obligations, including obligations under civil rights laws (such as discrimination and harassment prevention training) and occupational safety and health laws.

How Employers Should Prepare: (1) assess the content of mandatory meetings; (2) review the statutory definitions of religious and political matters; and (3) ensure...

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