Pursuant to Senate Bill 294 which went into effect January 1, 2026 and added a new Part 5.6 to the California Labor Code (sections 1550 – 1559), the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR” aka “Labor Commissioner”) has issued the anticipated “California Workplace – Know Your Rights” Notice (“Notice”).Continue Reading The New “Know Your Rights” Notice From the Department of Industrial Relations
In this episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin attorneys Jackie Simonovich and Chris Horsley break down California’s expanded recall and reinstatement protections under AB 858, which are now in effect. The law requires hospitality, service, and travel industry employers to offer open positions to qualified laid-off employees and prohibits retaliation.Continue Reading California Employment News: AB 858 Recall Rights and Extended Reinstatement Protections
The Workplace Know Your Rights Act – SB 294, takes effect on January 1st, 2026 and provides requirements for employers to notify employees of their rights related to law enforcement interactions at work, as well as providing the option for employers to notify an emergency contact in the event of an employee’s arrest at the workplace. Weintraub Tobin attorneys Ryan Abernethy and John Slavik discuss the key provisions of the new law, including the penalties for violations.Continue Reading California Employment News: Understanding the Workplace Know Your Rights Act
California recently passed Senate Bill 617 which requires additional information to be provided in Cal-WARN Act notices issued on or after January 1, 2026.
As a brief background, there are federal and state laws which discuss the issue of notice owed to employees before large layoffs. The Federal law is known as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification or “WARN” Act. California’s version of the WARN act (AB 2957, the “Cal-WARN Act”) contains additional provisions employers must be aware of. Cal-WARN Act notices are required if a “covered” establishment suffers a “mass layoff” or 50 or more employees, a “termination” of substantial operation, or a “relocation” to a different location 100 or more miles away. (Cal. Labor Code §§1400.5(d)-(f).) The notices must be sent to affected employees, the state Employment Development Department (“EDD”), and other local agencies. See our prior articles addressing these requirements in more detail here, as well as the EDD’s summary of the laws here.Continue Reading New Cal-WARN Act Notice Requirements
In this episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin attorneys Shauna Correia and Meagan Bainbridge discuss SB 261, a new law that strengthens enforcement of California wage judgments. Learn about the new public database for unpaid judgments, triple penalties for late payment, and mandatory attorney’s fees for enforcement.Continue Reading California Employment News: New Enforcement Tools for Wage Theft Judgments
