The California Labor Commissioner released a “Know Your Rights Act” notice template, in accordance with Senate Bill 294, that was approved last fall. All employers must provide this notice to their employees on or before February 1, 2026, and annually thereafter.
Templates are currently available in English and Spanish, with additional languages expected soon.
Included in the Notice
The notice requirement, established by the newly enacted Workplace Know Your Rights Act, provides employees with information regarding:
- The right to notice of an I-9 inspection by immigration agencies;
- Protection against unfair immigration-related practices;
- Constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement in the workplace;
- Labor organizing rights;
- Workers’ compensation;
- A description of new laws affecting workplace rights as determined by the Labor Commissioner;
- And a list of the enforcement agencies that may enforce the underlying rights in the notice.
Emergency Contact
The Act also requires employers to notify an employee’s designated emergency contact if the employee is arrested or detained at the worksite.
This requirement also applies if the employer has actual knowledge of an arrest or detention occurring off-site during work hours. This protocol is included in the template notice.
Guidelines for Distribution
Employers must distribute the notice to current employees as a “stand-alone” document in a manner the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information. This may also include:
- Personal service;
- Email; or
- Text message
If sending via email or text, the notice must be sent in a manner where it is reasonably anticipated to be received by the employee within one business day.
Employers must also ensure the “stand-alone”notice is also included in the onboarding packet for all new hires moving forward.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with the Act may result in citations issued by the Labor Commissioner or a public prosecutor. Employers may also face a civil penalty of up to $500 per employee for each violation.
A higher penalty may be imposed for violations involving the emergency contact notification, up to $500 per employee per day, with a maximum of $10,000 per employee.
