Articles Discussing General Workplace Issues in California.

On October 13, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation that would have regulated employers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other automated decisionmaking technologies in employment-related decisions, citing concerns about “overly broad restrictions” on employers’ use of the technology. The legislation, passed on the heels of the finalization of

On October 11, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation—Senate Bill (SB) No. 19—that updates the California Penal Code to add Section 422.3, a new statute that closes a loophole and includes, as criminal offenses to be more fully prosecuted, threats made against workplaces, schools, houses of worship, and

As we discussed in Part 1 of this post, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) has approved significant updates to California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations, which were formally approved by the California Office of Administrative Law on September 23, 2025. We began to outline the requirements for a significant

Changes Are in Store for California Pay Data Reporting, Pay Transparency, and Pay Equity Requirements

Several legislative and regulatory developments in California are poised to make notable changes to the state’s pay data reporting, pay transparency, and pay equity laws. These measures include a new subcommittee on pay data reporting

Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 513, which expands the scope of personnel documents employers must allow current and former employees to inspect.

Previously, under the California labor code, employers were required to allow current and former employees to inspect and receive a copy of personnel records the employer maintains relating

California Goes After TRAPs and Stay-or-Pay Provisions

The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 692, which restricts employers’ ability to enforce training and retention repayment provisions and other stay-or-pay provisions in employment agreements. The bill, which we expect to be signed by Governor Newsom soon, will be codified under the new

A good development for employers from the district court. At the beginning of the year, Senate Bill (SB) 399 became effective, restricting employers from requiring participation in mandatory meetings addressing religious or political topics, including those concerning labor organizations. Shortly thereafter, several business groups filed a federal lawsuit challenging the

For the Second Consecutive Year, California Expands Reasons Employees Can Use Job-Protected Paid Sick and Safe Time, Unpaid Leave

On October 1, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 406 to expand the reasons employees can take leave under California’s Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act (HWHFA), the statewide paid sick and

On October 1, 2025, California’s Governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 303, which states that an employee’s assessment, testing, admission, or acknowledgment of their own personal bias, when made in good faith and solicited or required as part of a bias mitigation training, does not, by itself, constitute unlawful discrimination. This

On September 11, 2025, the California Legislature passed a bill that would ban “stay or pay” terms in employment contracts, which require employees to pay their employer back for certain costs if they leave the job. Governor Gavin Newsom has not signed it yet.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (Cal/OSHA Standards Board) authorized a limited advisory committee to consider clarifications and training requirements for interior framing work, opening the door to further dialogue and clarification of the new fall protection rules. At the same time, the Standards Board has denied a