California’s privacy regulator intends to advance sweeping new rules that would govern AI tools used for automated decision-making purposes – but Governor Newsom just stepped in and signaled concern that these rules could...more
California regulators recently adopted regulations regarding automated-decision systems (ADS) in the workplace, aiming to protect against employment discrimination given the dramatic rise in artificial intelligence use in...more
A bill introduced in the California legislature this session aims to prevent employers from posting job notices for positions that don’t actually exist – a growing trend referred to as “ghost” job postings. If you’re not...more
4/2/2025
/ Business & Professions Code ,
California ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Recruitment Policies ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unfair Competition
A high-profile AI policy report commissioned by California Governor Gavin Newsom has just set the stage for potential new AI regulation that could soon impact your hiring processes, workplace surveillance, and AI-fueled...more
3/21/2025
/ Adverse Events ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Automated Decision Systems (ADS) ,
Bias ,
California ,
Comment Period ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
Performance Reviews ,
Public Comment ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Assessment ,
Third-Party Risk ,
Whistleblower Protection Policies
A newly proposed California bill seeks to regulate artificial intelligence decision-making tools in employment and other key areas – but will this proposal suffer the same fate as last year’s doomed legislative efforts?...more
Members of California’s Fast Food Council were not deterred by a chorus of franchise owners who gathered at a Jan. 23 meeting to object to plans for another minimum wage increase in the fast-food industry. Here’s the latest...more
This detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions addresses the workplace-related issues facing employers in the wake of the California fires. In addition to legal obligations you need to consider, this Insight also addresses...more
1/13/2025
/ California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employee Assistance Programs ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Employment Policies ,
Health and Safety ,
Leave of Absence ,
Natural Disasters ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Remote Working ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wildfires ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety
Our California thought leaders have pulled together their top predictions for the new year so that employers can get a running start to 2025....more
As we close out 2024 and look ahead to 2025, one thing is clear: this has been a year like no other. From a groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling to a pivotal election result that will usher in a new administration, employers...more
12/12/2024
/ Affirmative Action ,
Agricultural Sector ,
Analytics ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
Car Dealerships ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Workers ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Privacy ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
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Federal Contractors ,
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Foreign Workers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Hospitality Industry ,
International Labor Laws ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Relations ,
Manufacturing Employers ,
Mexico ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Professional Employer Organization ,
Retailers ,
Sports ,
Staffing Agencies ,
State Labor Laws ,
Student Athletes ,
Technology Sector ,
Trade Secrets ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Investigations ,
Workplace Safety
Now that the California legislative session is essentially over and Governor Newsom has taken action to either approve or veto all the workplace law bills on his desk, employers can take stock on all the new laws that will...more
10/2/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
Construction Industry ,
Crime Victims ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Employment Policies ,
Free Speech ,
Freelance Workers ,
Governor Newsom ,
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Heat Exposure ,
Hiring & Firing ,
New Legislation ,
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Injury
Facing intense opposition from high-tech businesses and leaders, California Governor vetoed a proposed AI safety law on Sunday that would have required developers of high-risk AI models to conduct safety tests and implement...more
California just enacted a new law further expanding protections for freelance workers. Beginning in 2025, private employers who hire certain independent contractors will be required to provide a written agreement specifying...more
With the August 31 deadline having come and gone, the California Legislature has completed its work for the year and sent all bills on to Governor Newsom’s desk. Now all eyes turn to the Governor as he has until September 30...more
9/4/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Governor Newsom ,
Labor Relations ,
New Legislation ,
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
California Governor Gavin Newsom just unveiled groundbreaking proposed legislation that would provide significant reform to California Private Attorneys’ General Act – also known as PAGA – and offer much-needed relief to...more
In a recent turn of events, California’s new law raising the healthcare minimum wage will likely be (slightly) delayed. SB 525 was initially set to take effect in less than two weeks, but state lawmakers are now considering a...more
Attention, California employers: You only have until May 8 to report last year’s pay data to the state, and you need a plan of action in order to comply with this stringent law. The good news is that the state published...more
California wants to rein in artificial intelligence – and that means employers and businesses need to step up and pay attention. State lawmakers are considering more than 30 AI-related bills across a wide range of topics...more
3/18/2024
/ Access to Information (ATI) ,
Algorithms ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Deep Fake ,
Election Interference ,
Employee Rights ,
Entertainment Industry ,
Job Applicants ,
Legal Technology ,
Machine Learning ,
Notification Requirements ,
Opt-Outs ,
Physicians ,
Popular ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
State Agencies
Attention, California employers: You only have three short months to report last year’s pay data to the state, and you need a plan of action in order to comply with this stringent law. The good news is that the state just...more
It may have gotten lost in the holiday shuffle, but PEOs and staffing agencies with California operations will need to add one more item to your 2024 to-do list: ensuring two key changes are made to the mandatory notice given...more
While the rest of the nation has largely moved on from COVID-19 workplace regulations, California employers still have some compliance obligations. For instance, a Cal/OSHA non-emergency COVID-19 regulation will remain on the...more
All California employers will need to make two changes to the mandatory notice you provide to your new hires as of January 1: you need to tell them about changes to California’s paid sick leave law, and you need to provide...more
12/21/2023
/ California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
DLSE ,
H2-A Visa Program ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
State of Emergency ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft Prevention Act
California employers know that the new year inevitably brings new workplace laws that are finalized at the end of the state’s legislative session in the fall. This year, state lawmakers considered over 2,700 bills – the most...more
10/16/2023
/ Appeals ,
Arbitration ,
Automatic Stay ,
California ,
Caregivers ,
Corporate Counsel ,
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Data Deletion ,
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Fast-Food Industry ,
Governor Newsom ,
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Layoffs ,
Minimum Wage ,
Motion to Compel ,
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Non-Compete Agreements ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
Registration Requirement ,
Remote Working ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Strike ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Unpaid Leave ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Violence ,
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
Governor Gavin Newsom just signed into law a bill that further expands California unpaid leave by allowing employees to take protected time off due to “reproductive loss.” Senate Bill 848, signed into law on October 10, will...more
A recent multimillion dollar wage theft citation against a California franchise operation should put fast-food businesses and other franchise models on notice that your business model could be the next target. The California...more
In the wake of numerous California cities passing local Paid Sick Leave (PSL) ordinances in recent years, the State of California has now taken matters into its own hands – and created yet more hurdles for employers. Late...more