California Employers Must Comply with New Laws in Effect
The California Legislature and Governor Jerry Brown have been busy this month passing and signing legislation that impacts employers in the state.
On September 7, 2011, the Governor signed AB 240. This bill permits an employee to recover liquidated damages from a complaint brought before the Labor Commissioner that alleges underpayment of minimum wages. The previous law only permitted employees to recover liquidated damages in a court action.
The Governor also signed SB 559 on September 6, 2011. This bill prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of an individual’s genetic characteristics. On the same day, the Governor signed SB 117, a bill focusing on gender and sexual orientation discrimination. This bill prohibits a state agency from entering into a contract for $100,000 or more with a contractor who discriminates against employees with same-sex spouses or domestic partners.
Many other bills that could have an impact on California employers have been presented to Governor but still await his signature. AB 267 is one such bill. If signed, it will make void any forum selection or choice of law clause in an employment contract where an employee, as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment, has to agree to the forum or law outside of California for any employment-related disputes arising in California.
AB 1396 also awaits the Governor’s signature. This bill would create the requirement that employers have a written commission agreement for employees performing services in California and who are paid on a commission basis. This written agreement would need to include how commissions are computed and paid. Compliance with this requirement would not be required until January 1, 2013.
The California Legislature also presented to the Governor a bill addressing bereavement leave. This bill, AB 325, if signed would require employers to grant an employee’s request to take up to three days of unpaid bereavement leave. It would not apply to an employee covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement that already provides for bereavement leave. Another bill for the Governor to sign is AB 22, which would prohibit the use of credit reports for employment purposes except in a limited number of circumstances.
The Mitzel Group, LLP will keep you updated on the status of these bills and you can contact us for further information on these developments at info@mitzelgroup.com.
