In 2020 it will be harder to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. The Dynamex “ABC” test will generally apply to the California Labor Code, Unemployment Code and Wage Orders. (AB 5 )- For employers with 26 or more employees, the minimum wage will be increased to $13 per hour. (SB 9)
- The statute of limitations for filing claims for FEHA violations with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing will be extended from one to three years. (AB 9)
- California employers with five or more employees will be required to provide harassment prevention training by January 1, 2021. (SB 778)
- The accommodations employers must provide to lactating employees will be expanded. (SB142)
- Racial discrimination law will be expanded to bar discrimination on the basis of natural hair styles. (SB 188)
- The leave rights of employees who donate organs will be expanded. (AB 1223)
- The maximum duration of Paid Family Leave will be expanded from six to eight weeks. (SB 88)
- After this year, mandatory arbitration agreements between employers and employees (other than collective bargaining agreements) are banned. (AB 51) Whether this state law violates federal law is not yet clear.
- Employees will have rights to assert claims for nonpayment of wages in Labor Commissioner hearings or in court. (SB 688
Prepared by employment attorney, Andrew Wolfe.
Andrew Wolfe is Of Counsel to Monty White LLP and can be reached at awolfe@montywhitelaw.com.
At the end of each paragraph I refer to the Assembly Bill (AB) or Senate Bill (SB) that sets forth the new law.