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As a follow-up to our November 2025 Client Alert, which can be found here, the California Labor Commissioner recently published a model notice that employers must provide to their employees pursuant to the Workplace Know Your Rights Act (the “Act”).
Employers may access the notice here. Although the model notice is available in English and Spanish (with more available languages releasing in the future), employers must provide the notice in the language normally used to communicate workplace and business matters with employees. Employers have until February 1, 2026, to provide the notice to all employees and must provide it annually thereafter.
The Act also requires employers to allow employees to designate an emergency contact who would be notified in the event the employee 1) is arrested or detained at work or 2) is arrested or detained during work hours, and the employer has actual knowledge of the arrest/detention. The Act makes it obligatory for employers to alert an employee’s emergency contact if one of the two listed criteria is met. This aspect of the Act must be implemented by March 30, 2026.
Employers who fail to comply with the Act may face civil penalties of up to $500 per employee for each violation, and up to $10,000 per employee for certain, more serious violations (for example, failure to notify emergency contacts if an employee is arrested or detained at work or during work hours).
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