The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has summarized both new laws and bills vetoed in the past year that are relevant to DIR and its divisions, which carry strong implications for HR compliance. Most of the chaptered bills were slated to take effect on January 1, so if you haven’t caught up yet, now’s the time to do so!
 |
According to a press release from the DIR, highlights of the chaptered bills include the following:
- SB 358 mandates that women be paid equally for work that is substantially similar to the work of their male colleagues. It also prohibits discrimination of or retaliation against employees who discuss their wages and those of their male colleagues.
- SB 579 gives workers more flexibility to take job-protected leave to address childcare issues, a school emergency, or to enroll or re-enroll a child in school.
- AB 970 authorizes the labor commissioner’s office to issue citations for violations of local minimum wage laws and failure to reimburse employees for unpaid business expenses.
- AB 1124 requires the Division of Workers’ Compensation to establish a prescription drug formulary for the California workers’ compensation system.
- AB 1513 clarifies pay requirements for piece-rate workers’ mandated rest and recovery breaks and other nonproductive time and addresses back liability by providing employers the opportunity, within a specified period, to make back wage payments for rest and recovery breaks and other nonproductive time in exchange for relief from statutory penalties.
Continue reading at the link below for the full press release, which will also direct you to the full version of the digest.