Each New Year in California comes with several new laws that impact the workplace, including those in the franchising industry. With each year that passes, the California Legislature reminds us that their intent is to provide employees across our state with vast worker protections and rights, placing a greater burden on employers to maintain legal compliance. This year is no different. Below is a brief highlight of select new employment laws that took effect on January 1, 2023, unless otherwise noted.
Wage Transparency (SB 1162): California enacted the Pay Transparency Act, which requires employers with 15 or more employees to include a pay scale range for internal and external job postings. Employers of all sizes must retain records of job titles and wage rate history for all employees for the duration of their employment and for three years thereafter. The new law also mandates new reporting obligations for employers with 100 or more employees, which includes annual pay data reports showing pay differences between different groups of employees.
Bereavement Leave (AB 1949): The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) now requires covered employers to provide up to five (5) days of bereavement leave to employees, and makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to refuse to grant a request by an eligible employee to take such leave.
Workplace Safety (SB 1044): This bill adds a new chapter to the Labor Code entitled Workers’ Rights in Emergencies, and...
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