With the new year, California employers should review and update their employment practices and policies. Use these tips to ensure compliance with recent legislative and regulatory changes.
Update Policies & Procedures
- Remember to update handbooks and harassment policies to provide a link to the Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s training information. If the workforce is multilingual, comply with translation requirements.
- Update policies and handbooks to incorporate California’s expansion of the California Family Rights Act. It now applies to employers of five or more, and it includes new leave rights for the care of siblings, grandparents and adult children. Businesses of every size will need to revise their policies.
- Prepare a sample COVID 19 notice that must be sent as of January 1, 2021 in response to a notice of COVID-19 exposure at work.
- Determine whether the new minimum wage in California ($14 for employers of 25 or more and $13 for the remainder) affects your business. Remember that exempt employees must be paid at least twice the minimum wage.
- Update legal posters. Much of the information in 2020 posters has been superseded.
- Ensure compliance with new emergency regulations requiring the adoption of a written COVID-19 prevention plan.
