California has a robust set of laws governing the workplace. The laws continue to evolve and 2023 is no different. What follows is a review of significant new laws that will affect most workplaces starting January 1, 2023.
AB 1041 expands family and medical leave to include care for any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. It also expands sick leave to include care for a person identified by the employee at the time the employee requests paid sick days.
AB 1949 requires private employers with five or more employees and public employers to grant a request by an eligible employee to take up to five days of bereavement leave upon the death of a family member.
AB 2068 requires employers to post citations, orders, and special orders issued by the Division of Occupational Safety and Health in seven designated languages in addition to English.
AB 2693 authorizes until January 1, 2024, employers to satisfy the notification requirements for potential exposure to COVID-19 by prominently displaying for 15 days a notice in all places where notices are customarily posted.
SB 523 prohibits employers with five or employees and public employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees based on reproductive health decisionmaking.
SB 984 requires employers to grant leave of absence without pay to employee members of reserve military units and the National Guard required to perform inactive duty obligations. It also entitles an employee to receive their salary or compensation for the first 30 calendar days for short-term military leave of absence for National Guard active duty and inactive duty training drill periods.
SB 1044 prohibits retaliation in the event of an emergency condition against any employee for refusing to report to, or leaving, a workplace within the affected area because the employee gave notice based on a reasonable belief that the workplace is unsafe.
SB 1126 requires employers with one or more employees that do not provide a retirement savings program to have a payroll deposit savings arrangement to allow employee participation in the CalSavers program.