The laws passed in 2014 added some new posting requirements and resulted in the need to
revise some of the notices California employers are required to provide to employees. This Friday’s Five Best Practices article sets out five items California employers should review before the start of 2015:

1. Review newly published frequently asked questions about California’s new paid sick leave law (AB 1522).
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) published a much awaited frequently asked questions on its website explaining how it interprets the new paid sick leave law taking effect in 2015 (click here to view the FAQ’s). Employers should review the questions and answers to have a full understanding their expectations under the new law. As a reminder, this law applies to every employer in California, even if the employer only has one employee.

2. Post the new paid sick leave poster.
As previous written about, the DLSE published the required poster employers must post in a conspicuous place for employees to see. This should be posted by January 1, 2015. Here is a link to download a PDF version of the poster: http://elr.io/pdfsickleaveposter

3. Start using updated Notice to Employee by at least January 1, 2015.
Also written about previously, employers must start using the new Notice to Employee on January 1, 2015. See my previous post for a discussion about how the notice has been revised. Here is a link to download a PDF version of the revised Notice to Employee: http://elr.io/noticetoemployee12-2014

4. Obtain and provide updated sexual harassment pamphlet to new hires.
The DFEH will be releasing revised pamphlets (Sexual Harassment: The facts about sexual harassment DFEH-185) employers are required to provide to new hires. Ensure you company obtains the revised pamphlets and provides the updated pamphlets to new hires.

5. Obtain and provide updated Discrimination and Harassment poster.
Like the sexual harassment pamphlet, the DFEH will be revising the poster entitled “California Law Prohibits Workplace Discrimination and Harassment” (DFEH -162). Employers are required to post this poster in the workplace. This revised noticed should be published by the DFEH within the next week or two, but as of December 5, 2014 the DFEH’s website does not contain the new poster. The poster will reflect the changes in California law that expanded protection against harassment to unpaid interns and volunteers. Click here for a list of the DFEH pamphlets and posters that are available for download. Presumably, once the revised materials are created by the DFEH they will be posted at the DFEH’s website as well.

Next week, I’ll discuss some other areas that employers should review as part of a yearly audit of their employment and wage and hour issues.