Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 294, known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act, creating a new annual notice obligation for California employers. Effective January 1, 2026, all employers must provide a stand-alone written notice of worker rights to each new hire at the time of hire and to all current employees annually thereafter. The Labor Commissioner will publish a model notice and educational materials by January 1, 2026, and employers will have until February 1, 2026, to distribute the initial notice.
The notice must cover key areas of worker protections under state and federal law, including wage and hour rights, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation, workplace safety, discrimination and retaliation protections, and rights related to immigration enforcement and law enforcement interactions. Employers may use the model or create their own version if it meets all content requirements and is provided in the language normally used to communicate employment terms.
SB 294 also requires employers to allow employees to designate an emergency contact to be notified if the employee is arrested or detained at work or during work hours when the employer has actual knowledge of the event. Current employees must be given the opportunity to designate their contact by March 30, 2026.
The Labor Commissioner and public prosecutors are authorized to enforce the law. Non-compliance may result in civil penalties of up to $500 per employee per violation and up to $10,000 per employee for certain violations involving emergency contact notifications. Employers should update onboarding and compliance systems, collect emergency contact designations, and train HR staff to ensure compliance.
