In the second year of his second stint as governor, Jerry Brown has again signed many bills that are important to California’s employers. Notable this year are the significant changes to the enforcement of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and changes and clarifications regarding wage statements. This commentary will guide you through the new hoops and potential hurdles you will face in the coming year, give you tips on getting prepared to meet the new requirements going into effect on January 1, 2013, and, in case you missed last year’s edition, remind you of some requirements you may have missed.

Legislation Affecting All California Employers -

a. Workplace Privacy

-Employer Access to Employee Social Media (A.B. 1844)

This bill adds Section 980 to the California Labor Code to limit employer access to personal social media accounts of current and prospective employees. Beginning January 1, 2013, employers may not require applicants or employees to...