California is at it again! Over the past few weeks Governor Jerry Brown signed several employment-related bills – some of which require employers of all sizes to update their policies and practices. Some of the new laws, most of which will become effective January 1, 2012, are briefly summarized in this alert.

AB 887

Amends the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Unruh Civil Rights Act to include gender identity and gender expression in the definition of “Gender,” making it clear that discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression is prohibited. Requires employers to allow an employee to appear or dress consistently with the employee’s gender expression. Defines “gender expression” as a person’s gender-related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.

Please see full article below for more information.