2024 New California Employment Laws
Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash As we approach the end of the year, it is essential for businesses to review their operations and prepare for the changes that the coming year will bring. In January 2024, several new California Employment Laws will go into effect, impacting policies and budgets. This is a crucial time for employers to update their employee handbooks and hiring documents to ensure compliance with these new regulations. Minimum Paid Sick Leave Accrual Cap and Use Increases One of the significant changes in 2024 is the increase in the minimum paid sick leave accrual, cap, and use. The law is that employees must earn at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours of work. If your company uses an alternative method of paid sick leave accrual, such as front-loading, employers previously had to provide three days (24 hours) of paid sick leave. This requirement has now increased to five days (40 hours) that are available within the first 200 calendar days of employment. Employers may also cap the use of accrued paid sick … Continue reading
Disney Lawsuit and the California Equal Pay Act
Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash Female mid-managers at the Walt Disney Co. recently requested class certification in a lawsuit against Disney entitled LaRonda Rasmussen, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co. et al. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit seek $150 million in damages on behalf of themselves and other female mid-managers who worked for the Walt Disney Co. throughout the United States. The lawsuit against Disney alleges that the company discriminated against women who worked for them in that “across all of its business segments and at all levels of the company, Disney routinely underpays its female employees, passes them over for promotion, piles on extra work without additional compensation, and does not supply sufficient support staff to allow women to succeed at their jobs.” This is a violation of California’s equal pay laws. At the heart of this and other discrimination lawsuits is whether an employer treats its female employees differently than their male counterparts. One of the plaintiffs in this case alleged that each of the six men holding the same title as her (“Manager, Product Development”) … Continue reading