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As we enter 2025, California businesses face several new laws that expand workplace protections, address emerging challenges, and impose additional compliance requirements. Below is a list of the Top 10 new labor and business laws going into effect this year.
SB 399: Worker Freedom From Employer Intimidation Act
SB 399 will prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend meetings to discuss religious or political matters, including unionization, and establishes penalties for violations.
AB 2602: AI Protections for Performers
AB 2602 prevents using AI to replicate a performer's voice or likeness without consent, requiring representation by unions or legal counsel for related agreements.
SB 951: Paid Family Leave Expansion
SB 951 increases paid family leave benefits to 90% of wages for employees earning less than $63,000 manually, with higher earners eligible for 70%.
SB 1105: Farmworker Sick Leave for Hazardous Conditions
SB 1105 allows farmworkers to take sick leave when hazardous environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, make work unsafe.
SB 988: Freelance Worker Protection Act
SB 988 requires businesses to provide written contracts for freelance services over $250 and mandates timely payment within 30 days unless otherwise specified.
SB 1137: Intersectionality in Discrimination Protections
SB 1137 will expand California's anti-discrimination laws to include employee protections based on combinations of protected traits like race and gender.
AB 2499: Paid Sick Leave for Violence Victims
AB 2499 expands the right to take sick leave for employees and their families affected by acts of violence, including domestic violence and stalking.
AB 1802 & SB 982: Retail Theft Penalties
Both bills will codify organized retail theft as a felony for stolen goods valued over $950 and establish enhanced penalties for thefts intended for resale.
Statewide Minimum Wage Increases
Beginning January 1, 2025, the California minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour and the minimum exempt salary threshold to $68,640 annually.
As California's labor laws expand and enforce stricter compliance requirements, employers and businesses must promptly update workplace policies, employee handbooks, and contracts to comply with these laws. Preparing for these changes now will help ensure that you and your business can smoothly transition into 2025.
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