AB 3081: Employment: sexual harassment.
- Session Year: 2017-2018
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2018-09-04
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits various actions as unlawful employment practices and makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, to engage in harassment of an employee or other specified person. FEHA also makes harassment of those persons by an employee, other than an agent or supervisor, unlawful if the entity, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have known of this conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. Under FEHA, an employer may also be responsible for the acts of nonemployees, with respect to sexual harassment of employees and other specified persons, if the employer, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have known of the conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. FEHA defines harassment for these purposes to include sexual harassment, gender harassment, and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Existing law also requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for harassment for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment, as defined by FEHA. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation based on the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking if an employer takes specific actions within 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits various actions as unlawful employment practices and makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, to engage in harassment of an employee or other specified person. FEHA also makes harassment of those persons by an employee, other than an agent or supervisor, unlawful if the entity, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have known of this conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. Under FEHA, an employer may also be responsible for the acts of nonemployees, with respect to sexual harassment of employees and other specified persons, if the employer, or its agents or supervisors, knows or should have known of the conduct and fails to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. FEHA defines harassment for these purposes to include sexual harassment, gender harassment, and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Existing law also requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for harassment for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
(1)Existing
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment, as defined, for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment and would require an employer to provide reasonable accommodations to the employee, as described above. The bill would also extend these protections to an employee who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, as specified, or stalking. harassment, as defined by FEHA. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation based on the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking if an employer takes specific actions within 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2)Existing law prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees, in addition to the above provisions, from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to seek specified medical attention, obtain specified services, obtain counseling, or take specific actions relating to safety. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the division for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.The bill would also offer the same protections to an employee who is the victim of sexual harassment or who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, as specified, or stalking. The bill would make the filing deadline for the existing and new prohibitions 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation.(3)The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment.The bill also would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement those submission provisions. (4)Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.(5)TheThe California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment, as defined, for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment. harassment and would require an employer to provide reasonable accommodations to the employee, as described above. The bill would also extend these protections to an employee who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, as specified, or stalking. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation based on the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking if an employer takes specific actions within 90 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2)Existing law prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees, in addition to the above provisions, from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to seek specified medical attention, obtain specified services, obtain counseling, or take specific actions relating to safety. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the division for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
The bill would also offer the same protections to an employee who is the victim of sexual harassment or who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, as specified, or stalking. The bill would make the filing deadline for the existing and new prohibitions 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(3)The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill also would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement those submission provisions.
(4)Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
(5)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment, as defined, for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment, as defined. harassment. The bill would also extend these protections to an employee who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation based on the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2)Existing law prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees employees, in addition to the above provisions, from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from for taking time off work to seek specified medical attention or attention, obtain specified services. services, obtain counseling, or take specific actions relating to safety. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the division for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
The bill would also offer the same protections to an employee who is the victim of sexual harassment or who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking in seeking medical attention or specified services. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. stalking. The bill would make the filing deadline for the existing and new prohibitions 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(3)The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.
This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting those submission provisions.
(4)Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
(5)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
(1)Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment, as defined. The bill would establish also extend these protections to an employee who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(2)Existing law prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from taking time off work to seek medical attention or specified services.
The bill would also offer the same protections to an employee who is the victim of sexual harassment or who takes time off to assist a family member, as defined, who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking in seeking medical attention or specified services. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The(3)The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.
This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill would also require the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections under the Labor Code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting provisions.
Existing(4)Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
The(5)The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment. harassment, as defined. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. The bill would make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. The bill would apply these protections to state and local public employers and to the Legislature. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.
This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill would also require the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections under the Labor Code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting provisions.
Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off work to obtain specified relief or because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of that prohibition these prohibitions or that reasonable accommodations requirement within 1 one year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would similarly also prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint with the division for a violation of that prohibition within make the filing deadline for these prohibitions and the reasonable accommodations requirement 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.
This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill would also require the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections under the Labor Code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting provisions.
Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. Existing law authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of that prohibition within 1 year from the date of occurrence of the violation. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
This bill would similarly prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of sexual harassment. The bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint with the division for a violation of that prohibition within 3 years from the date of occurrence of the violation. By expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes specified employment practices unlawful, including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employers knowledge. FEHA requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to provide employers with a poster and an information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components. FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
FEHA requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every 2 years, as specified.
This bill would require an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment. The bill would require an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would require the sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
The bill would also require the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections under the Labor Code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. The bill would require the Labor Commissioner to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting provisions.
Existing law requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers compensation coverage.
This bill would require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, makes specified employment practices unlawful, including discrimination against or harassment of employees, among others.This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would, among other things, ensure there is adequate time for an employee to report claims of retaliation should an employees rights to lodge complaints regarding sexual harassment and assault be violated or met with an adverse action.Existing law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, makes specified employment practices unlawful, including discrimination against or harassment of employees, among others.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would, among other things, ensure there is adequate time for an employee to report claims of retaliation should an employees rights to lodge complaints regarding sexual harassment and assault be violated or met with an adverse action.
(a)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for harassment, as described in subdivision (j) of Section 12940, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
(1)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) of the Labor Code with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(2)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under this section.
(3)The client employer and the labor contractor shall not take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
(b)The provisions of this section are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(c)Client employer, labor contractor, labor, and worker shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code.
SEC. 2.Section 230 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this subdivision if an employer, within 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, harassment shall be defined as in subdivision (j) of Section 12940 of the Government Code.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(3)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 3.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for harassment, as described in subdivision (j) of Section 12940, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
(1)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) of the Labor Code with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(2)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under this section.
(3)The client employer and the labor contractor shall not take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
(b)The provisions of this section are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(c)Client employer, labor contractor, labor, and worker shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code.
SECTION 1.SEC. 2.Section 230 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(2)(A)Subject to the limitation in subparagraph (B), an employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off work to provide assistance and support to the victim seeking relief.(B)For subparagraph (A) to apply to an employee providing assistance and support to a family member who is a victim of sexual harassment, the family member shall be under 18 years of age.(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this subdivision if an employer, within 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee.
(3)For purposes of this subdivision, harassment shall be defined as in subdivision (j) of Section 12940 of the Government Code.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within three years one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Employer means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.(3)Family member means:(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child applies regardless of age or dependency status.(B)A biological, adopted, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.(C)A spouse.(D)A registered domestic partner.(E)A grandparent.(F)A grandchild.(G)A sibling.(4)(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(5)Sexual harassment means severe or pervasive unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:(A)Leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters.(B)Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or graphic verbal commentaries or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual.(C)Touching, assault, impeding, or blocking movements.(D)Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors. (6)(3)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Section 230.1 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.1.(a)In addition to the requirements and prohibitions imposed on employees pursuant to Section 230, an employer with 25 or more employees shall not do either of the following:(1)Discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work for any of the following purposes:(A)To seek medical attention for injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.(B)To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, program, or rape crisis center as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.(C)To obtain psychological counseling related to an experience of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.(D)To participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, including temporary or permanent relocation.(2)(A)Subject to the limitation described in subparagraph (B), discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off from work to provide assistance and support to the victim in connection with the purposes described in paragraph (1).(B)For subparagraph (A) to apply to an employee providing assistance and support to a family member who is a victim of sexual harassment, the family member shall be under 18 years of age.(b)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 230.(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f) of Section 230, employers shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (a).(c)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief. An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.(d)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (a) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.(e)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any term or condition of a collective bargaining agreement.(f)This section does not create a right for an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under, or is in addition to the unpaid leave time permitted by, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.).(g)For purposes of this section:(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, as amended.(2)Family member means:(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child is applicable regardless of age or dependency status.(B)A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.(C)A spouse.(D)A registered domestic partner.(E)A grandparent.(F)A grandchild.(G)A sibling.(3)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.(4)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.(h)(1)Employers shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under this section and subdivisions (c), (e), and (f) of Section 230 in writing. The information shall be provided to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request.(2)The Labor Commissioner shall develop a form that an employer may use to comply with the notice requirements in paragraph (1). The form shall set forth the rights and duties of employers and employees under this section in clear and concise language. The Labor Commissioner shall post the form on the commissioners Internet Web site to make it available to employers who are required to comply with this section. If an employer elects not to use the form developed by the Labor Commissioner, the notice provided by the employer to the employees shall be substantially similar in content and clarity to the form developed by the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner shall develop the form and post it in accordance with this paragraph on or before July 1, 2017.(3)Employers shall not be required to comply with paragraph (1) until the Labor Commissioner posts the form on the commissioners Internet Web site in accordance with paragraph (2).SEC. 3.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 30 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.1082.The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.SEC. 4.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:(1)The payment of wages.(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.SEC. 5.SEC. 3.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(2)An (A)Subject to the limitation in subparagraph (B), an employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off work to provide assistance and support to the victim seeking relief.
(B)For subparagraph (A) to apply to an employee providing assistance and support to a family member who is a victim of sexual harassment, the family member shall be under 18 years of age.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this subdivision if an employer, within 90 30 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Employer means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
(3)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child applies regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adopted, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(4)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(5)Sexual harassment means severe or pervasive unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A)Leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters.
(B)Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or graphic verbal commentaries or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual.
(C)Touching, assault, impeding, or blocking movements.
(D)Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
(6)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Section 230.1 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.1.(a)In addition to the requirements and prohibitions imposed on employees pursuant to Section 230, an employer with 25 or more employees shall not do either of the following:
(1)Discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work for any of the following purposes:
(A)To seek medical attention for injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(B)To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, program, or rape crisis center as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(C)To obtain psychological counseling related to an experience of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(D)To participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, including temporary or permanent relocation.
(2)Discharge, (A)Subject to the limitation described in subparagraph (B), discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off from work to provide assistance and support to the victim in connection with the purposes described in paragraph (1).
(B)For subparagraph (A) to apply to an employee providing assistance and support to a family member who is a victim of sexual harassment, the family member shall be under 18 years of age.
(b)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 230.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f) of Section 230, employers shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (a).
(c)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief. An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (a) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(e)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any term or condition of a collective bargaining agreement.
(f)This section does not create a right for an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under, or is in addition to the unpaid leave time permitted by, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.).
(g)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(2)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child is applicable regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(3)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(4)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
(h)(1)Employers shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under this section and subdivisions (c), (e), and (f) of Section 230 in writing. The information shall be provided to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request.
(2)The Labor Commissioner shall develop a form that an employer may use to comply with the notice requirements in paragraph (1). The form shall set forth the rights and duties of employers and employees under this section in clear and concise language. The Labor Commissioner shall post the form on the commissioners Internet Web site to make it available to employers who are required to comply with this section. If an employer elects not to use the form developed by the Labor Commissioner, the notice provided by the employer to the employees shall be substantially similar in content and clarity to the form developed by the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner shall develop the form and post it in accordance with this paragraph on or before July 1, 2017.
(3)Employers shall not be required to comply with paragraph (1) until the Labor Commissioner posts the form on the commissioners Internet Web site in accordance with paragraph (2).
SEC. 3.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 30 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.1082.(a)As used in this chapter, worker includes either an employee or an independent contractor.(b)1082.The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 4.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 5.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(2)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off work to provide assistance and support to the victim seeking relief.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as either of the following:
(1)A a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There(2)There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph subdivision if an employer, within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employees cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employees opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph. employee.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Employer means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
(3)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child applies regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adopted, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(4)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(5)Sexual harassment means severe or pervasive unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A)Leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters.
(B)Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or graphic verbal commentaries or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual.
(C)Touching, assault, impeding, or blocking movements.
(D)Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
(6)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Section 230.1 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.1.(a)In addition to the requirements and prohibitions imposed on employees pursuant to Section 230, an employer with 25 or more employees shall not do either of the following:
(1)Discharge Discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work for any of the following purposes:
(A)To seek medical attention for injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(B)To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, program, or rape crisis center as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(C)To obtain psychological counseling related to an experience of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(D)To participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, including temporary or permanent relocation.
(2)Discharge Discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off from work to provide assistance and support to the victim in connection with the purposes described in paragraph (1).
(b)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 230.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f) of Section 230, employers shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (a).
(c)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief. An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (a) within one year three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(e)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any term or condition of a collective bargaining agreement.
(f)This section does not create a right for an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under, or is in addition to the unpaid leave time permitted by, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.).
(g)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(2)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child is applicable regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(3)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(4)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
(h)(1)Employers shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under this section and subdivisions (c), (e), and (f) of Section 230 in writing. The information shall be provided to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request.
(2)The Labor Commissioner shall develop a form that an employer may use to comply with the notice requirements in paragraph (1). The form shall set forth the rights and duties of employers and employees under this section in clear and concise language. The Labor Commissioner shall post the form on the commissioners Internet Web site to make it available to employers who are required to comply with this section. If an employer elects not to use the form developed by the Labor Commissioner, the notice provided by the employer to the employees shall be substantially similar in content and clarity to the form developed by the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner shall develop the form and post it in accordance with this paragraph on or before July 1, 2017.
(3)Employers shall not be required to comply with paragraph (1) until the Labor Commissioner posts the form on the commissioners Internet Web site in accordance with paragraph (2).
SEC. 3.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).
(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.
(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
1082.(a)As used in this subdivision, chapter, worker includes either an employee or an independent contractor.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 4.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 5.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)(1)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(2)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off work to provide assistance and support to the victim seeking relief.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as either of the following:
(1)A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph if an employer, within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employees cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employees opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended. (3)(2)Employer means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
(3)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child applies regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adopted, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(4)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(4)(5)Sexual harassment means unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A)Leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters.
(B)Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or graphic verbal commentaries or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual.
(C)Touching, assault, impeding, or blocking movements.
(D)Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
(5)(6)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Section 230.1 of the Labor Code is amended to read:230.1.(a)In addition to the requirements and prohibitions imposed on employees pursuant to Section 230, an employer with 25 or more employees shall not discharge, do either of the following:
(1)Discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking for taking time off from work for any of the following purposes:
(1)(A)To seek medical attention for injuries caused by domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(2)(B)To obtain services from a domestic violence shelter, program, or rape crisis center as a result of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(3)(C)To obtain psychological counseling related to an experience of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking.
(4)(D)To participate in safety planning and take other actions to increase safety from future domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking, including temporary or permanent relocation.
(2)Discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, an employee who is a family member of a victim described in paragraph (1) for taking time off from work to provide assistance and support to the victim in connection with the purposes described in paragraph (1).
(b)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 230.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f) of Section 230, employers shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (a).
(c)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief. An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (a) within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(e)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any term or condition of a collective bargaining agreement.
(f)This section does not create a right for an employee to take unpaid leave that exceeds the unpaid leave time allowed under, or is in addition to the unpaid leave time permitted by, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 2601 et seq.).
(g)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, or in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(2)Family member means:
(A)A child, including a biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, legal ward, or a child to whom the employee stands in loco parentis. This definition of a child is applicable regardless of age or dependency status.
(B)A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employees spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.
(C)A spouse.
(D)A registered domestic partner.
(E)A grandparent.
(F)A grandchild.
(G)A sibling.
(2)(3)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(3)(4)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
(h)(1)Employers shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under this section and subdivisions (c), (e), and (f) of Section 230 in writing. The information shall be provided to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request.
(2)The Labor Commissioner shall develop a form that an employer may use to comply with the notice requirements in paragraph (1). The form shall set forth the rights and duties of employers and employees under this section in clear and concise language. The Labor Commissioner shall post the form on the commissioners Internet Web site to make it available to employers who are required to comply with this section. If an employer elects not to use the form developed by the Labor Commissioner, the notice provided by the employer to the employees shall be substantially similar in content and clarity to the form developed by the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner shall develop the form and post it in accordance with this paragraph on or before July 1, 2017.
(3)Employers shall not be required to comply with paragraph (1) until the Labor Commissioner posts the form on the commissioners Internet Web site in accordance with paragraph (2).
SEC. 2.SEC. 3.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).
(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.
(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
1082.(a)The Labor Commissioner shall establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections in this code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. As used in this subdivision, worker includes either an employee or an independent contractor.(b)The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 3.SEC. 4.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 4.SEC. 5.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as either of the following:
(1)A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph if an employer, within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employees cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employees opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(3)Employer means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
(4)Sexual harassment means unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(A)Leering, making sexual gestures, displaying of sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters.
(B)Derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or graphic verbal commentaries or sexually degrading words used to describe an individual.
(C)Touching, assault, impeding, or blocking movements.
(D)Offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
(3)(5)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).
(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.
(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
1082.(a)The Labor Commissioner shall establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections in this code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues. As used in this subdivision, worker includes either an employee or an independent contractor.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 3.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 4.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as either of the following:
(1)A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph if an employer, within 90 days following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim, denies, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employees cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employees opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c) (c), (e), or (f) within one year three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(3)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (e) as follows:(i)With regard to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.(ii)With regard to sexual harassment, within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(3)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).
(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.
(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
1082.(a)The Labor Commissioner shall establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections in this code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 3.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.(2)Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 4.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
(a)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate against an employee for taking time off to serve as required by law on an inquest jury or trial jury, if the employee, prior to taking the time off, gives reasonable notice to the employer that the employee is required to serve.
(b)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee, including, but not limited to, an employee who is a victim of a crime, for taking time off to appear in court to comply with a subpoena or other court order as a witness in any judicial proceeding.
(c)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for taking time off from work to obtain or attempt to obtain any relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, restraining order, or other injunctive relief, to help ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
(d)(1)As a condition of taking time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (c), the employee shall give the employer reasonable advance notice of the employees intention to take time off, unless the advance notice is not feasible.
(2)When an unscheduled absence occurs, the employer shall not take any action against the employee if the employee, within a reasonable time after the absence, provides a certification to the employer. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the following:
(A)A police report indicating that the employee was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(B)A court order protecting or separating the employee from the perpetrator of an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or other evidence from the court or prosecuting attorney that the employee has appeared in court.
(C)Documentation from a licensed medical professional, domestic violence counselor, as defined in Section 1037.1 of the Evidence Code, a sexual assault counselor, as defined in Section 1035.2 of the Evidence Code, licensed health care provider, or counselor that the employee was undergoing treatment for physical or mental injuries or abuse resulting in victimization from an act of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(3)To the extent allowed by law and consistent with subparagraph (D) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (f), the employer shall maintain the confidentiality of any employee requesting leave under subdivision (c).
(e)An employer shall not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because of the employees status as a as either of the following:
(1)A victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
(2)A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph if an employer, within 90 days following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim, denies, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employees cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employees opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph.
(f)(1)An employer shall provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work.
(2)For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations may include the implementation of safety measures, including a transfer, reassignment, modified schedule, changed work telephone, changed work station, installed lock, assistance in documenting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking that occurs in the workplace, an implemented safety procedure, or another adjustment to a job structure, workplace facility, or work requirement in response to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, or referral to a victim assistance organization.
(3)An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who has not disclosed his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
(4)The employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(5)In determining whether the accommodation is reasonable, the employer shall consider an exigent circumstance or danger facing the employee.
(6)This subdivision does not require the employer to undertake an action that constitutes an undue hardship on the employers business operations, as defined by Section 12926 of the Government Code. For the purposes of this subdivision, an undue hardship also includes an action that would violate an employers duty to furnish and maintain a place of employment that is safe and healthful for all employees as required by Section 6400 of the Labor Code.
(7)(A)Upon the request of an employer, an employee requesting a reasonable accommodation pursuant to this subdivision shall provide the employer a written statement signed by the employee or an individual acting on the employees behalf, certifying that the accommodation is for a purpose authorized under this subdivision.
(B)The employer may also request certification from an employee requesting an accommodation pursuant to this subdivision demonstrating the employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Certification shall be sufficient in the form of any of the categories described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).
(C)An employer who requests certification pursuant to subparagraph (B) may request recertification of an employees status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking every six months after the date of the previous certification.
(D)Any verbal or written statement, police or court record, or other documentation provided to an employer identifying an employee as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking shall be maintained as confidential by the employer and shall not be disclosed by the employer except as required by federal or state law or as necessary to protect the employees safety in the workplace. The employee shall be given notice before any authorized disclosure.
(E)(i)If circumstances change and an employee needs a new accommodation, the employee shall request a new accommodation from the employer.
(ii)Upon receiving the request, the employer shall engage in a timely, good faith, and interactive process with the employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations.
(F)If an employee no longer needs an accommodation, the employee shall notify the employer that the accommodation is no longer needed.
(8)An employer shall not retaliate against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking for requesting a reasonable accommodation, regardless of whether the request was granted.
(g)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has taken time off for a purpose set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer.
(2)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer for reasons prohibited in subdivision (c) or (e), or because the employee has requested or received a reasonable accommodation as set forth in subdivision (f), shall be entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages and work benefits caused by the acts of the employer, as well as appropriate equitable relief.
(3)An employer who willfully refuses to rehire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure or hearing authorized by law is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(h)(1)An employee who is discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or in any other manner discriminated or retaliated against in the terms and conditions of employment by his or her employer because the employee has exercised his or her rights as set forth in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (e), or (f) may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 98.7.
(2)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), (c) or (f) within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(3)Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (e) as follows:
(i)With regard to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(ii)With regard to sexual harassment, within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(i)An employee may use vacation, personal leave, or compensatory time off that is otherwise available to the employee under the applicable terms of employment, unless otherwise provided by a collective bargaining agreement, for time taken off for a purpose specified in subdivision (a), (b), or (c). The entitlement of any employee under this section shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining agreement term or condition.
(j)For purposes of this section:
(1)Domestic violence means any of the types of abuse set forth in Section 6211 of the Family Code, as amended.
(2)Sexual assault means any of the crimes set forth in Section 261, 261.5, 262, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266g, 266j, 267, 269, 273.4, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.5, 289, or 311.4 of the Penal Code, as amended.
(3)Stalking means a crime set forth in Section 646.9 of the Penal Code or Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code.
SEC. 2.Chapter 4.7 (commencing with Section 1080) is added to Part 3 of Division 2 of the Labor Code, to read:4.7.Sexual Harassment1080.(a)At the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, an employer shall provide to each employee a written notice, in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment-related information to the employee, containing the following information:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)That an employee cannot be terminated or retaliated against for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment if the victim provides notice to the employer or if the employer has actual knowledge of the status, or for filing a complaint of sexual harassment against the employer.
(8)That there is a presumption of retaliation for certain employer actions taken within 90 days after the employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint.
(9)That the employee has three years to file a complaint against an employer who retaliates after the employee files a sexual harassment complaint, beginning on the date the employee is subjected to the retaliatory action.
(10)Any other information the Labor Commissioner deems material and necessary.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall prepare a template that complies with subdivision (a). The template shall be made available to employers in a manner determined by the Labor Commissioner.
(c)An employer shall deliver the written notice pursuant to subdivision (a) in a manner that ensures distribution to each employee, including, but not limited to, an information sheet based on the template prepared pursuant to subdivision (b) or information included with an employees pay.
1081.(a)An employer with more than 25 employees shall train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
(b)Sexual harassment training for each nonsupervisorial employee shall be in the language understood by that employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
(c)Sexual harassment prevention training shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
(1)The illegality of sexual harassment.
(2)The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
(3)A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
(4)The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
(5)The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(6)Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the office of the Labor Commissioner.
(7)The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
(d)The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, Sexual Harassment, as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required in subdivision (c).
(e)At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the Department of Fair Employment and Housings pamphlet DFEH-185, and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training.
(f)The employer shall keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
1082.(a)The Labor Commissioner shall establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections in this code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues.
(b)The Labor Commissioner shall create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal. The Labor Commissioner may request that a person submitting an allegation provide his or her name and contact information and provide the names and contact information for any persons who could help to substantiate the claim. However, the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall clearly state on the agency Internet Web site that this information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
(c)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section.
SEC. 3.Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code is amended to read:2810.3.(a)As used in this section:
(1)(A)Client employer means a business entity, regardless of its form, that obtains or is provided workers to perform labor within its usual course of business from a labor contractor.
(B)Client employer does not include any of the following:
(i)A business entity with a workforce of fewer than 25 workers, including those hired directly by the client employer and those obtained from, or provided by, any labor contractor.
(ii)A business entity with five or fewer workers supplied by a labor contractor or labor contractors to the client employer at any given time.
(iii)The state or any political subdivision of the state, including any city, county, city and county, or special district.
(2)Labor has the same meaning provided by Section 200.
(3)Labor contractor means an individual or entity that supplies, either with or without a contract, a client employer with workers to perform labor within the client employers usual course of business. Labor contractor does not include any of the following:
(A)A bona fide nonprofit, community-based organization that provides services to workers.
(B)A bona fide labor organization or apprenticeship program or hiring hall operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
(C)A motion picture payroll services company as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 679 of the Unemployment Insurance Code.
(D)A third party who is a party to an employee leasing arrangement, as defined by Rule 4 of Section V of the California Workers Compensation Experience Rating Plan-1995 (Section 2353.1 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations), as it read on January 1, 2014, except those arrangements described in subrule d of Rule 4 of Section V, if the employee leasing arrangement contractually obligates the client employer to assume all civil legal responsibility and civil liability under this act.
(4)Wages has the same meaning provided by Section 200 and all sums payable to an employee or the state based upon any failure to pay wages, as provided by law.
(5)Worker does not include an employee who is exempt from the payment of an overtime rate of compensation for executive, administrative, and professional employees pursuant to wage orders by the Industrial Welfare Commission described in Section 515.
(6)Usual course of business means the regular and customary work of a business, performed within or upon the premises or worksite of the client employer.
(b)A client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for both of the following:
(1)The payment of wages.
(2)
Failure to secure valid workers compensation coverage as required by Section 3700.
(3)Sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
(c)A client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
(d)At least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for violations covered by this section, a worker or his or her representative shall notify the client employer of violations under subdivision (b).
(e)Neither the client employer nor the labor contractor may take any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or filing a claim or civil action.
(f)The provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirement established by statute or common law.
(g)This section does not prohibit a client employer from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a labor contractor for liability created by acts of a labor contractor.
(h)This section does not prohibit a labor contractor from establishing, exercising, or enforcing by contract any otherwise lawful remedies against a client employer for liability created by acts of a client employer.
(i)Upon request by a state enforcement agency or department, a client employer or a labor contractor shall provide to the agency or department any information within its possession, custody, or control required to verify compliance with applicable state laws. Upon request, these records shall be made available promptly for inspection, and the state agency or department shall be permitted to copy them. This subdivision does not require the disclosure of information that is not otherwise required to be disclosed by employers upon request by a state enforcement agency or department.
(j)The Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under his or her jurisdiction.
(k)The Division of Occupational Safety and Health may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (c) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(l)The Employment Development Department may adopt regulations and rules of practice and procedure necessary to administer and enforce the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (i) that are under its jurisdiction.
(m)A waiver of this section is contrary to public policy, and is void and unenforceable.
(n)This section shall not be interpreted to impose individual liability on a homeowner for labor or services received at the home or the owner of a home-based business for labor or services received at the home.
(o)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on a client employer for the use of an independent contractor other than a labor contractor or to change the definition of independent contractor.
(p)This section shall not be interpreted to impose liability on the following:
(1)A client employer that is not a motor carrier of property based solely on the employers use of a third-party motor carrier of property with interstate or intrastate operating authority to ship or receive freight.
(2)A client employer that is a motor carrier of property subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another motor carrier of property to provide transportation services using its own employees and commercial motor vehicles, as defined in Section 34601 of the Vehicle Code.
(3)A client employer that is not a household goods carrier based solely on the employers use of a third-party household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code to move household goods.
(4)A client employer that is a household goods carrier permitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code subcontracting with, or otherwise engaging, another permitted household goods carrier to provide transportation of household goods using its own employees and motor vehicles, as defined in Section 5108 of the Public Utilities Code.
(5)A client employer that is a cable operator as defined by Section 5830 of the Public Utilities Code, a direct-to-home satellite service provider, or a telephone corporation as defined by Section 234 of the Public Utilities Code, based upon its contracting with a company to build, install, maintain, or perform repair work utilizing the employees and vehicles of the contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on employee uniforms and vehicles.
(6)A motor club holding a certificate of authority issued pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12160) of Part 5 of Division 2 of the Insurance Code when it contracts with third parties to provide motor club services utilizing the employees and vehicles of the third-party contractor if the name of the contractor is visible on the contractors vehicles.
SEC. 4.No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution.
SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would accomplish the following:(a)Make all persons aware of their rights and protections established in state laws through regular training to protect employees from sexual harassment and assault and ensures that employees have accessible channels through which to address and report these issues if their safety in the workplace has been compromised.(b)Ensure there is adequate time for an employee to report claims of retaliation should an employees rights to lodge complaints regarding sexual harassment and assault be violated or met with an adverse action.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would accomplish the following:
(a)Make all persons aware of their rights and protections established in state laws through regular training to protect employees from sexual harassment and assault and ensures that employees have accessible channels through which to address and report these issues if their safety in the workplace has been compromised.
(b)Ensure there is adequate time for an employee to report claims of retaliation should an employees rights to lodge complaints regarding sexual harassment and assault be violated or met with an adverse action.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2018 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Sep 11, 2018 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m. |
| Aug 30, 2018 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Aug 29, 2018 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
| Aug 29, 2018 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Aug 27, 2018 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 24, 2018 | Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading. |
| Aug 20, 2018 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Aug 17, 2018 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 16). |
| Aug 6, 2018 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jul 2, 2018 | Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun 28, 2018 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 27). |
| Jun 27, 2018 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. & I.R. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 26). Re-referred to Com. on L. & I.R. |
| Jun 20, 2018 | Referred to Coms. on JUD. and L. & I.R. |
| Jun 13, 2018 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| May 31, 2018 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| May 29, 2018 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| May 25, 2018 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 12. Noes 4.) (May 25). |
| May 16, 2018 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| May 10, 2018 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 9, 2018 | From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 30, 2018 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Apr 26, 2018 | Read second time and amended. |
| Apr 25, 2018 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 24). |
| Apr 19, 2018 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (April 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD. |
| Apr 2, 2018 | Re-referred to Com. on L. & E. |
| Mar 22, 2018 | Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and JUD. |
| Feb 17, 2018 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 19. |
| Feb 16, 2018 | Read first time. To print. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30, 2018 | AB 3081 GONZALEZ FLETCHER Concurrence in Senate Amendments | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 29, 2018 | Assembly 3rd Reading AB3081 Gonzalez Fletcher et al. By Leyva | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Aug 16, 2018 | Do pass as amended | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Aug 6, 2018 | Placed on suspense file | Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 27, 2018 | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations |
Passed |
|
| Jun 26, 2018 | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor and Industrial Relations] | Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| May 31, 2018 | AB 3081 GONZALEZ FLETCHER Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 25, 2018 | Do pass as amended. | Assembly Standing Committee on Appropriations |
Passed |
|
| Apr 24, 2018 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary |
Passed |
|
| Apr 18, 2018 | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary] | Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Amalgamated Transit Union | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| American Association of Univeristy Women | * Support | Jun 26, 2018 |
| American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| Associated General Contractors | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Brea Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Agricultural Aircraft Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Ambulance Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Apartment Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Association For Health Services At Home | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Association Of Joint Powers Authorities | ** Against | Aug 20, 2018 |
| California Association Of Winegrape Growers | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Attractions And Parks Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Bankers Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Beer and Beverage Distributors | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Chamber Of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Conference Board Of The Amalgamated Transit Union | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Conference Of Machinists | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Domestic Workers Coalition | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Employment Law Council | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Employment Lawyers | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| California Farm Bureau Federation | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Federation Of Teachers | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Fresh Fruit Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Grocers Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Hotel and Lodging Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Labor Federation | * Support | Jun 27, 2018 |
| California League of Food Producers | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Manufacturers And Technology Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Professional Firefighters | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| California Restaurant Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Retailers Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Teamsters Public Affairs Council | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Travel Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| California Women's Law Center | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Camarillo Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Civil Justice Association Of California | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Consumer Attorneys Of California | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Department Of Finance | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Engineers and Scientists of CA, Local 20 | ** Support | Apr 16, 2018 |
| Equal Rights Advocate | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Garden Grove Chamber Of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Gilroy Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| International Longshore & Warehouse Union | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Jockey'S Guild | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Jockeys' Guild | ** Support | Apr 16, 2018 |
| League Of California Cities | ** Against | Aug 20, 2018 |
| National Association of Social Workers | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| National Association Of Social Workers, California Chapter | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| National Federation Of Independent Business | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| North Orange County Chamber | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Official Police Garages of Los Angeles | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Oxnard Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Professional and Technical Engineers, IFPTE Local 21, AFL-CIO | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Rideshare Drivers Nationwide | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| SAG-AFTRA | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Santa Clara Wage Theft Coalition | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| SEIU California | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| the machinists | * Support | Apr 24, 2018 |
| UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Unite-Here, Local 11 | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| United Farm Workers | * Support | Apr 18, 2018 |
| Utility Workers of America | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Western Agricultural Processors Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Western Growers Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Western Plant Health Association | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Wine Institute | ** Against | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Women's Foundation of California | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
| Work Equity | ** Support | Aug 27, 2018 |
GOVERNOR'S VETO
GV Bill Id:AB 3081
Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher and Bonta)
As Enrolled Ver:September 11, 2018
2/3 vote
ASSEMBLY: | 47-23 | (May 31, 2018) | SENATE: | 25-13 | (August 29, 2018) |
ASSEMBLY: | 47-25 | (August 30, 2018) |
|
|
|
Original Committee Reference: L. & E.
SUMMARY:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of sexual harassment.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for the 30 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking, if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee.
- Imposes joint liability between a client employer and a labor contractor for harassment based on sex, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
- Prohibits the client employer and the labor contractor from taking any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
The Senate amendments
- Remove the provision which provided reasonable accommodation, including time off, to an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment or an employee who is providing support to a family member who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
- Delete the provision requiring an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire and once every two years thereafter.
- Lower the rebuttable presumption of retaliation for adverse employment actions taken within 90 days to 30 days after the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the sexual harassment.
- Delete the provision of the bill in the Labor Code that expanded the joint liability for harassment based on sex to labor contractors and client employers and instead add a new section to the Government Code amending the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to specify that a client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil and legal responsibility for harassment, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
EXISTING LAW:
- Prohibits, under FEHA, discrimination in employment based upon specified personal characteristics and explicitly prohibits an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, from failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring.
- Authorizes an aggrieved employee alleging an unlawful practice under FEHA to file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year from the date of the unlawful practice, as specified. Additionally, an individual wishing to file a complaint in civil court must first exhaust his or her administrative remedy with DFEH and if a civil action is not brought, as specified, the aggrieved employee can request a right-to-sue notice.
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for a victim.
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage.
- Establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), within the Department of Industrial Relations and under the direction of the Labor Commissioner, to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws.
FISCAL EFFECT: Due to amendments subsequent to the hearing of the bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee the fiscal impact is unknown.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation."
This bill creates a new, ill-defined standard of joint liability between labor contractors and client employers, prohibits both entities from retaliating against an employee who has filed a harassment claim, and establishes a 30-day notice requirement before certain workers can file a civil action against a client employer.
Most of the provisions in this bill are contained in current law and are therefore unnecessary. To the extent there are new provisions, they are confusing.
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Richard / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0005354
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 3081
Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher and Bonta)
As Amended Ver:August 24, 2018
Majority vote
ASSEMBLY: | 47-23 | (May 31, 2018) | SENATE: | 25-13 | (August 29, 2018) |
Original Committee Reference: L. & E.
SUMMARY:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of sexual harassment.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for the 30 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking, if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee.
- Imposes joint liability between a client employer and a labor contractor for harassment based on sex, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
- Prohibits the client employer and the labor contractor from taking any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
The Senate amendments
- Remove the provision which provided reasonable accommodation, including time off, to an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment or an employee who is providing support to a family member who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
- Delete the provision requiring an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire and once every two years thereafter.
- Lower the rebuttable presumption of retaliation for adverse employment actions taken within 90 days to 30 days after the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the sexual harassment.
- Delete the provision of the bill in the Labor Code that expanded the joint liability for harassment based on sex to labor contractors and client employers and instead add a new section to the Government Code amending the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to specify that a client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil and legal responsibility for harassment, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
EXISTING LAW:
- Prohibits, under FEHA, discrimination in employment based upon specified personal characteristics and explicitly prohibits an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, from failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring.
- Authorizes an aggrieved employee alleging an unlawful practice under FEHA to file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year from the date of the unlawful practice, as specified. Additionally, an individual wishing to file a complaint in civil court must first exhaust his or her administrative remedy with DFEH and if a civil action is not brought, as specified, the aggrieved employee can request a right-to-sue notice.
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for a victim.
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage.
- Establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), within the Department of Industrial Relations and under the direction of the Labor Commissioner, to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws.
FISCAL EFFECT: Due to amendments subsequent to the hearing of the bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee the fiscal impact is unknown.
COMMENTS: According to the author, "Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation."
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Richard / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0005096
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 3081
Amended: 8/24/18 in Senate
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 6/26/18
AYES: Jackson, Hertzberg, Monning, Stern, Wieckowski
NOES: Moorlach, Anderson
SENATE LABOR & IND. REL. COMMITTEE: 4-1, 6/27/18
AYES: Lara, Jackson, Mitchell, Wieckowski
NOES: Stone
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 8/16/18
AYES: Portantino, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Wiener
NOES: Bates, Nielsen
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 47-23, 5/31/18 - See last page for vote
DIGEST:
This bill 1) prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of sexual harassment; (2) creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for the 30 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking, if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee; 3) imposes joint civil and legal liability between a client employer and a labor contractor for harassment, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor; and 4) prohibits the client employer and the labor contractor from taking any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
Senate Floor Amendments of 8/24/18 remove the majority of the bill’s contents which were designed to increase awareness and prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and provide support to victims. What remains are amendments to Labor Code §230 which add a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or stalking if there is any negative employment action taken against the employee. The amendments also create a new Government Code section to specify that a client employer shall share with a labor contractor all civil and legal responsibility for harassment, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor. The previous version of the bill addressed this issue by amending Labor Code §2810.3, these amendments instead created a new section to address the issue of harassment specifically.
Existing law:
- Prohibits, under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), discrimination in employment based upon specified personal characteristics and explicitly prohibits an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, from failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring. (GOV Code §12940)
- Authorizes an aggrieved employee alleging an unlawful practice under FEHA to file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year from the date of the unlawful practice, as specified. Additionally, an individual wishing to file a complaint in civil court must first exhaust his or her administrative remedy with DFEH and if a civil action is not brought, as specified, the aggrieved employee can request a right-to-sue notice. (Government Code §12960 & §12965)
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for a victim. (Labor Code §230)
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage. (Labor Code §2810.3)
This bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of sexual harassment.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for the 30 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking, if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee.
- Specifies that “harassment” has the same meaning as it is defined in subdivision (j) of Section 12940 of the Government Code.
- Requires a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for harassment, as defined, for all workers supplied by that labor contractor.
- Specifies that a client employer shall not shift to the labor contractor any legal duties or liabilities under Division 5 (commencing with Labor Section 6300) with respect to workers supplied by the labor contractor.
- Requires, at least 30 days prior to filing a civil action against a client employer for harassment violations, a worker or his or her representative to notify the client employer of such violations.
- Prohibits the client employer and the labor contractor from taking any adverse action against any worker for providing notification of violations or for filing a claim or civil action.
- Specifies that these joint liability provisions are in addition to, and shall be supplemental of, any other theories of liability or requirements established by statute or common law.
- Specifies “client employer,” “labor contractor,” “labor,” and “worker” have the same meaning as defined in Section 2810.3 of the Labor Code.
Background
Need for this bill?
According to the author, “Nationwide, nearly 50 workers are sexually assaulted on
the job each day, according to estimates from the US Department of Justice. In
Fiscal Year 2013, the combined total number of harassment charges filed with the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state and local Fair
Employment Practices Agencies was over 30,000. More than 10,000 of these
charges involved sexual harassment, and 82 percent were brought by women. The
number of complaints currently filed by workers does not come close to capturing
how pervasive this issue is. It is estimated that 60 percent of workers who have
experienced sexual harassment in their workplace have not reported it.”
Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or assault while on the job. Unfortunately, the author argues, many workers have been overlooked in mainstream conversations. This bill is one of a number of legislative proposals introduced this year to attempt to address this problem. This bill addresses workplace sexual harassment through various changes and additions to the Labor Code that seek to deter sexual harassment while strengthening workplace protections, and remedies, against employer retaliation for taking time off to cope and recover from an incident.
Please see the policy committee analyses for more background information.
Related/Prior Legislation
SB 1223 (Galgiani, 2018) requires DLSE to develop construction industry-specific sexual harassment training standards.
SB 1300 (Jackson, 2018), among other things, requires an employer, as defined, to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees within six months of their hire and once every two years; and requires an employer to provide bystander intervention training, as specified, and to provide information to each employee on how to report harassment.
SB 1343 (Mitchell, 2018) reduces the sexual harassment training requirement threshold from 50 to five or more employees, include non-supervisorial employees in the training, and require that DFEH develop the training course and make it available online.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, based on the previous version of the bill (amendment date of August 17, 2018), the Department of Industrial Relations indicates that it would incur a first-year cost of $1.2 million, and $867,000 annually thereafter, to implement the provisions of the bill.
California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union
California Conference of Machinists
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation of Teachers
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California Women’s Law Center
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
Consumer Attorneys of California
Engineers and Scientists of California, IFPTE Local 20, AFL-CIO
International Longshore & Warehouse Union
Jockey’s Guild
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Professional and Technical Engineers, IFPTE Local 21, AFL-CIO
SAG-AFTRA
UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO
UNITE-HERE, Local 11
Utility Workers of America
Women’s Foundation of California
Work Equity
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/27/18)
Associated General Contractors
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Agricultural Aircraft Association
California Ambulance Association
California Apartment Association
California Association for Health Services at Home
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Attractions and Parks Association
California Bankers Association
California Beer and Beverage Distributors
California Chamber of Commerce
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
California Employment Law Council
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Grocers Association
California Hotel and Lodging Association
California League of Food Producers
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
California Travel Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Civil Justice Association of California
Department of Finance
Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business
North Orange County Chamber
Official Police Garages of Los Angeles
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Growers Association
Western Plant Health Association
Wine Institute
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to proponents, this bill will enact stronger accountability measures to hold employers responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. The bill will establish workforce protections against sexual harassment that is especially pervasive amongst low-wage workforces, three-quarters of whom are women. Further, they argue that low-wage workers may also fear retaliation for making a claim, and could be risking their job and ability to provide for their families when seeking to report sexual harassment.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: A coalitions of employers, including the California Chamber of Commerce, are opposed arguing that this bill would create another pathway for costly litigation against employers for issues that are already protected under the FEHA. There is no basis for a business that contracts for services being deemed statutorily liable for sexual harassment or sexual discrimination when there is absolutely no way in which that contractor can engage or force the labor contract company to comply with provisions of FEHA or the Labor Code. They argue that controlling the acts of individual employees is hard enough let alone the acts of another employer’s employees that the client employer does not control. Moreover, they argue, this statutory mandate ignores and disrupts current law that already provides liability for sexual harassment claims in relation to third parties. FEHA explicitly states that an employer may be held liable for harassment caused by a “person providing services pursuant to a contract.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 47-23, 5/31/18
AYES: Acosta, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooper, Eggman, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Chen, Choi, Cunningham, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Gray, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mayes, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel, Waldron
NO VOTE RECORDED: Aguiar-Curry, Cooley, Daly, Frazier, Grayson, Mathis, O'Donnell, Steinorth
8/27/18 19:50:35
**** END ****
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 3081
Amended: 8/17/18 in Senate
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: 5-2, 6/26/18
AYES: Jackson, Hertzberg, Monning, Stern, Wieckowski
NOES: Moorlach, Anderson
SENATE LABOR & IND. REL. COMMITTEE: 4-1, 6/27/18
AYES: Lara, Jackson, Mitchell, Wieckowski
NOES: Stone
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 5-2, 8/16/18
AYES: Portantino, Beall, Bradford, Hill, Wiener
NOES: Bates, Nielsen
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 47-23, 5/31/18 - See last page for vote
DIGEST:
This bill makes a series of changes and additions to the Labor Code designed to increase awareness and prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and provide support to victims. This bill, among other things, (1) prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who take time off from work to address the impacts of sexual harassment; (2) extends, to family members of the victim, the protection against retaliation for taking time off to address the impacts of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sexual harassment; (3) creates a rebuttable presumption, for the 30 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of sexual harassment, that any negative employment action taken against the employee is retaliatory; (4) increases the statute of limitations for filing a claim of unlawful retaliation arising from an employee’s request for time-off, reasonable accommodation, or status as a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment; (5) requires all employers to provide employees with a notice about workplace rights relating to sexual harassment; (6) requires the Labor Commissioner to establish an online mechanism for receiving complaints of sexual harassment; and (7) imposes joint and several liability between a labor contractor and a client employer for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or sexual assault of a worker.
Existing law:
- Prohibits, under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), discrimination in employment based upon specified personal characteristics and explicitly prohibits an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, from failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring. (GOV Code §12940)
- Requires employers with five or more employees to post a poster on discrimination in employment, with information on the illegality of sexual harassment, in the workplace, as specified. (GOV Code §12950)
- Requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least two hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of assuming supervisorial duties and once every two years. (GOV Code §12950.1)
- Authorizes an aggrieved employee alleging an unlawful practice under FEHA to file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year from the date of the unlawful practice, as specified. Additionally, an individual wishing to file a complaint in civil court must first exhaust his or her administrative remedy with DFEH and if a civil action is not brought, as specified, the aggrieved employee can request a right-to-sue notice. (Government Code §12960 & §12965)
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for a victim. [Labor Code §230 (e)-(f)]
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage. (Labor Code §2810.3)
- Establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), within the Department of Industrial Relations and under the direction of the Labor Commissioner, to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws. (Labor Code §§79-107)
This bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, and who is under 18 years of age, for taking time off work to assist and support the victim.
- Expands on existing provisions that prohibit employer discrimination or retaliation against an employee because of his/her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking to include sexual harassment.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for purposes of the prohibition above, if the employer discharges or takes any other adverse action against the employee within 30 days following the date the employee provides notice or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
- Increases the statute of limitations under which an employee who is a victim of an unlawful discharge, discrimination or retaliation has to file a claim with the DLSE from one to three years from the date of the violation.
- Defines “employer” as a person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
- Defines “family member” as a child or parent, as defined, a spouse, a registered domestic partner, a grandparent, a grandchild, or a sibling.
- Defines “sexual harassment” as, among other things, severe or pervasive unwanted sexual advances or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace.
- Expands on the definition of “domestic violence” to include abuse set forth under Penal Code Section 11165.6 pertaining to child abuse, thus extending protections to an employee who needs to take time off work to care for the health, safety or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
- Adds a chapter to the Labor Code requiring new sexual harassment prevention notice requirements. Specifically, this new chapter:
- Requires an employer, at the time of hiring and on an annual basis thereafter, to provide each employee with a written notice (in the employee's primary language) that contains specified information related to the legal definition of sexual harassment, descriptions of sexual harassment, and the manner of making complaints and seeking remedies from appropriate entities.
- Requires the Labor Commissioner to prepare and make available to employers a template of the written notice specified above.
- Requires the LC to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal.
- Requires a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker.
Background
Need for this bill?
According to the author, “Nationwide, nearly 50 workers are sexually assaulted on
the job each day, according to estimates from the US Department of Justice. In
Fiscal Year 2013, the combined total number of harassment charges filed with the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state and local Fair
Employment Practices Agencies was over 30,000. More than 10,000 of these
charges involved sexual harassment, and 82 percent were brought by women. The
number of complaints currently filed by workers does not come close to capturing
how pervasive this issue is. It is estimated that 60 percent of workers who have
experienced sexual harassment in their workplace have not reported it.”
Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or assault while on the job. Unfortunately, the author argues, many workers have been overlooked in mainstream conversations. This bill is one of a number of legislative proposals introduced this year to attempt to address this problem. This bill addresses workplace sexual harassment through various changes and additions to the Labor Code that seek to deter sexual harassment while strengthening workplace protections, and remedies, against employer retaliation for taking time off to cope and recover from an incident.
Please see the policy committee analyses for more background information.
Related/Prior Legislation
SB 1223 (Galgiani, 2018) requires DLSE to develop construction industry-specific sexual harassment training standards.
SB 1300 (Jackson, 2018), among other things, requires an employer, as defined, to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees within six months of their hire and once every two years; and requires an employer to provide bystander intervention training, as specified, and to provide information to each employee on how to report harassment.
SB 1343 (Mitchell, 2018) reduces the sexual harassment training requirement threshold from 50 to five or more employees, include non-supervisorial employees in the training, and require that DFEH develop the training course and make it available online.
AB 1870 (Reyes, Friedman, and Waldron, 2018) extends from one to three years the period for which unlawful employment practice claims may be filed with DFEH.
AB 2079 (Gonzalez Fletcher, 2018) requires the Department of Industrial Relations to form an advisory committee to develop standards for organizations and peer-trainers that provide janitorial service employers with their required sexual harassment training.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Department of Industrial Relations indicates that it would incur a first-year cost of $1.2 million, and $867,000 annually thereafter, to implement the provisions of the bill.
California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union
California Conference of Machinists
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Federation of Teachers
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California Women’s Law Center
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
Consumer Attorneys of California
Engineers and Scientists of California, IFPTE Local 20, AFL-CIO
International Longshore & Warehouse Union
Jockey’s Guild
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Professional and Technical Engineers, IFPTE Local 21, AFL-CIO
SAG-AFTRA
UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO
UNITE-HERE, Local 11
Utility Workers of America
Women’s Foundation of California
Work Equity
OPPOSITION: (Verified 8/16/18)
Associated General Contractors
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Agricultural Aircraft Association
California Ambulance Association
California Apartment Association
California Association for Health Services at Home
California Association of Joint Powers Authorities
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Beer and Beverage Distributors
California Chamber of Commerce
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Grocers Association
California Hotel and Lodging Association
California League of Food Producers
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Civil Justice Association of California
Department of Finance
Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
League of California Cities
National Federation of Independent Business
North Orange County Chamber
Official Police Garages of Los Angeles
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Plant Health Association
Wine Institute
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to proponents, this bill will enact stronger accountability measures to hold employers responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. The bill will establish workforce protections against sexual harassment that is especially pervasive amongst low-wage workforces, three-quarters of whom are women. Further, they argue that low-wage workers may also fear retaliation for making a claim, and could be risking their job and ability to provide for their families when seeking to report sexual harassment.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION: A coalition of employers, including the California Chamber of Commerce, argues that this bill “would create another pathway of costly litigation against employers for issues that are already protected under the FEHA.” They argue that given existing sexual harassment protections and training requirements in FEHA, placing these additional sexual harassment protections in the Labor Code is “completely misplaced and unnecessary, leaving the employer in the position of having to decipher and comply with two potentially conflicting statutes.” Opponents also argue that this bill extends these employment protections to immediate family members of the victim, with the term being broadly defined, leaving the statute ripe for abuse.
Additionally, they argue that this bill will unnecessarily expand employer liability if sexual harassment protections are added to the Labor Code; employers are not only exposed to FEHA remedies, but also lawsuits under the Private Attorneys General Act. Opponents are also concerned with the bill’s unfair rebuttable presumption against the employer arguing that “if an employee who files a claim for sexual harassment is caught stealing the next day and immediately terminated, the employee will be protected under this automatic, rebuttable presumption.”
Lastly, the employer coalition is against the extending joint liability for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination or sexual assault to a business that contracts for services. They argue, “There is no basis that a business that contracts for services should be deemed statutorily liable for sexual harassment or sexual discrimination when there is absolutely no way in which that contractor can engage or force the labor contract company to comply with provisions of FEHA or the Labor Code.”
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 47-23, 5/31/18
AYES: Acosta, Berman, Bloom, Bonta, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chiu, Chu, Cooper, Eggman, Friedman, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, McCarty, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rodriguez, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Weber, Wood, Rendon
NOES: Travis Allen, Arambula, Baker, Bigelow, Brough, Chávez, Chen, Choi, Cunningham, Dahle, Flora, Fong, Gallagher, Gray, Harper, Kiley, Lackey, Mayes, Melendez, Obernolte, Patterson, Voepel, Waldron
NO VOTE RECORDED: Aguiar-Curry, Cooley, Daly, Frazier, Grayson, Mathis, O'Donnell, Steinorth
8/20/18 9:55:45
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular Session
AB 3081 (Gonzalez Fletcher) - Employment: sexual harassment
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
Bill Summary:
AB 3081 would (1) make a series of changes and additions to the Labor Code designed to deter workplace sexual harassment, and (2) provide victims of sexual harassment with specified support.
*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM – SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on August 16, 2018
Fiscal Impact:
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) indicates that it would incur a first-year cost of $1.2 million, and $867,000 annually thereafter, to implement the provisions of the bill (Labor Enforcement and Compliance Fund).
Author Amendments:
Make clarifying changes, removes the training requirement from the bill, revert to current law for the documentation required for unscheduled absences, and lower the period of rebuttable presumption from 90 days to 30 days. For the purposes of an employee assisting a family member who is a victim of sexual harassment, amendments limit this provision to a family member who is under the age of 18. For the purposes of an employee assisting a family member who is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, there is no age limit.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON
Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular Session
AB 3081 (Gonzalez Fletcher) - Employment: sexual harassment
Version: | Policy Vote: |
Urgency: | Mandate: |
Hearing Date: | Consultant: |
This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.
Bill Summary:
AB 3081 would (1) make a series of changes and additions to the Labor Code designed to deter workplace sexual harassment, and (2) provide victims of sexual harassment with specified support.
Fiscal Impact:
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) indicates that it would incur a first-year cost of $1.2 million, and $867,000 annually thereafter, to implement the provisions of the bill (Labor Enforcement and Compliance Fund).
Background:
The Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. DFEH is responsible for enforcing the provisions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA); consequently, FEHA protects employees against discrimination in employment based on various characteristics including race, religion, marital status, and gender, among others. FEHA applies to both public and private employers, except for a narrow religious exemption. An aggrieved individual may file a complaint with the DFEH or may choose to instead file a lawsuit for employment discrimination but must first obtain a Right-to-Sue notice from the DFEH. Traditionally, DIR has not been directly involved in the development or enforcement of rules and training requirements related to workplace sexual harassment.
Proposed Law:
This bill would, among other things, do the following:
- Prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking for taking time off work to assist and support the victim.
- Prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because the employee is a victim of sexual harassment who has provided notice to the employer of this status or where the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
- Create a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for purposes of the prohibition above, if the employer discharges or takes any other adverse action against the employee within 90 days after the employee files a sexual harassment claim.
- Extend the timeframe that an employee who is a victim of an unlawful discharge, discrimination or retaliation, per the above prohibitions, has to file a claim with the Division of Labor Enforcement Standards (DLSE) within DIR from the current one year to three years from the date of the occurrence of the violation.
- Define “employer” as a person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
- Defines “family member” as a child, as defined, a parent, as defined, a spouse, a registered domestic partner, a grandparent, a grandchild, or a sibling.
- Define “sexual harassment” as, among other things, severe or pervasive unwanted sexual advances or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace.
- Expand on the definition of “domestic violence” to include abuse set forth under Penal Code Section 11165.6 pertaining to child abuse, thus extending protections to an employee who needs to take time off work to care for the health, safety or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
- Add a chapter to the Labor Code requiring new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment prevention. Specifically, this new chapter would do the following:
- Require an employer, at the time of hiring and on an annual basis thereafter, to provide each employee with a written notice (in the employee's primary language) that contains specified information related to the legal definition of sexual harassment, descriptions of sexual harassment, and the manner of making complaints and seeking remedies from appropriate entities.
- Require the Labor Commissioner (LC) to prepare and make available to employers a template of the written notice specified above.
- Requires an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Requires the LC to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal.
- Require a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
Related Legislation:
- SB 1223 (Galgiani) would require DLSE to work with other agencies to develop construction industry-specific sexual harassment training standards. The bill is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
- SB 1300 (Jackson) would, among other things, require an employer, as defined, to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees within 6 months of their hire and once every 2 years. The bill also would require an employer to provide bystander intervention training, as specified, and to provide information to each employee on how to report harassment. The bill is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
- SB 1343 (Mitchell) would reduce the sexual harassment training requirement threshold from 50 to 5 or more employees, include non-supervisorial employees in the training, and require that the DFEH develop the training course and make it available on the Department’s website. The bill is pending in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Staff Comments:
As noted above, this bill would add a new chapter to the Labor Code to require notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment prevention. Among other things, the bill would require the LC to (1) develop and make available a written notice on sexual harassment, and (2) create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault. Also as noted above, current law under FEHA (1) requires employers to provide and post notices with similar information, and (2) requires the DFEH to develop these materials for employer use. Existing law also establishes a complaint and investigation procedure for aggrieved employees under the jurisdiction of the DFEH. Thus, this bill could result in employers having to comply with two sets of statutes. To the extent that those two sets were in conflict, there would be confusion regarding whether employers’ actions are in compliance with the law.
DIR would require additional staff resources totaling $1.2 million for the first year, and $867,000 annually thereafter to enforce the provisions of the bill and develop and maintain its required internet portal.
Any local government costs resulting from the mandate in this measure are not state-reimbursable because the mandate only involves the definition of a crime or the penalty for conviction of a crime.
-- END --
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2017 - 2018 Regular
Bill No: AB 3081 Hearing Date: June 27, 2018
Author: | Gonzalez Fletcher | ||
Version: | May 25, 2018 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | Alma Perez-Schwab | ||
Subject: Employment: sexual harassment
KEY ISSUES
Should the Legislature prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because the employee is a victim of sexual harassment?
Should the Legislature prohibit an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking for taking time off work to assist and support the victim?
Should an aggrieved employee have up to three years to file a claim with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for violations of these protections?
Should the Legislature require that employers with 25 or more employees train all nonsupervisory employees in identifying, preventing and reporting sexual harassment?
Should a client employer share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker?
ANALYSIS
Existing law:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating, retaliating, or taking any adverse action against any employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant engaged in certain protected conduct under the Labor Code. (Labor Code §98.6)
- Provides that an employer who willfully refuses to hire, promote, or otherwise restore an employee or former employee who has been determined to be eligible for rehiring or promotion by a grievance procedure, arbitration, or hearing authorized by law, is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable for a $10,000 maximum civil penalty per employee for each violation. (Labor Code §98.6)
- Provides that an aggrieved employee is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages or benefits caused by the employer's violation. (Labor Code §98.6)
- Requires the employee to file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner within six months of the date that the violation occurred and sets forth the process by which complaints will be investigated and remedied. Specifies, however, that any rights and remedies provided by these provisions do not preclude an employee from pursuing any other right or remedy under any other law. (Labor Code §98.7)
- Prohibits an employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, from retaliating against an employee for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over the employee or another employee who has the authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, as specified, if the employee believes the information discloses a violation of law. Specifies penalties for a violation of this provision. (Labor Code §1102.5)
- Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), prohibits discrimination in employment based upon specified personal characteristics, including the race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status of any person. (Government Code §12940)
- Explicitly prohibits an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program, or any training program leading to employment, from failing to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment from occurring. [Government Code §12940(k)]
- Defines an employer as any person regularly employing 5 or more individuals, directly or indirectly, except a religious association or non-profit. (Government Code §12926)
- Requires each employer to post a poster on discrimination in employment, which includes information in relation to the illegality of sexual harassment, in a prominent and accessible location in the workplace. (Government Code §12950)
- Requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of assuming supervisorial duties and once every 2 years.
(Government Code §12950.1) - Authorizes an aggrieved employee alleging an unlawful practice under FEHA to file a claim with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) within one year from the date of the unlawful practice, as specified. Additionally, an individual wishing to file a complaint in civil court must first exhaust his or her administrative remedy with DFEH and if a civil action is not brought, as specified, the aggrieved employee can request a right-to-sue notice. (Government Code §12960 & §12965)
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. [Labor Code §230 (e)-(f)]
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage. (Labor Code §2810.3)
- Establishes the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), within the Department of Industrial Relations and under the direction of the Labor Commissioner, to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws. (Labor Code §§79-107)
This Bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee who is a family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking for taking time off work to assist and support the victim.
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because the employee is a victim of sexual harassment who has provided notice to the employer of this status or where the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for purposes of the prohibition above, if the employer discharges or takes any other adverse action against the employee within 90 days after the employee files a sexual harassment claim.
- Extends the timeframe that an employee who is a victim of an unlawful discharge, discrimination or retaliation, per the above prohibitions, has to file a claim with the Division of Labor Enforcement Standards (DLSE) from the current one year to three years from the date of the occurrence of the violation.
- Defines “employer” as a person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, any political subdivision of the state, and the Legislature.
- Defines “family member” as a child, as defined, a parent, as defined, a spouse, a registered domestic partner, a grandparent, a grandchild, or a sibling.
- Defines “sexual harassment” as, among other things, unwanted sexual advances or visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same sex as the harasser. Sexual harassment need not occur in the workplace.
- Expands on the definition of “domestic violence” to include abuse set forth under Penal Code Section 11165.6 pertaining to child abuse, thus extending protections to an employee who needs to take time off work to care for the health, safety or welfare of the victim or his or her child.
- Adds a chapter to the Labor Code requiring new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment prevention. Specifically, this new chapter would do the following:
- Requires an employer, at the time of hiring and on an annual basis thereafter, to provide each employee with a written notice (in the employee's primary language) that contains specified information related to the legal definition of sexual harassment, descriptions of sexual harassment, and the manner of making complaints and seeking remedies from appropriate entities.
- Requires the Labor Commissioner to prepare and make available to employers a template of the written notice specified above.
- Requires an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Requires the LC to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal.
- Requires a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
COMMENTS
1. Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing:
Established within the Government Code, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. The mission of the DFEH is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations and from hate violence and human trafficking. DFEH is responsible for enforcing the provisions under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). As noted above, the FEHA exists to protect employees against discrimination in employment based on various characteristics including race, religion, marital status, and gender, among others. FEHA applies to both public and private employers, except for a narrow religious exemption. An aggrieved individual may file a complaint with the DFEH or may choose to instead file a lawsuit for employment discrimination but must first obtain a Right-to-Sue notice from the DFEH.
2. Existing Sexual Harassment Notice Requirements:
Under FEHA and implementing regulations, employers must provide employees with detailed written policies for preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Employers must also provide each new employee with DFEH’s pamphlet on sexual harassment (DFEH-185). Additionally, FEHA requires employers with five or more employees to post a copy of the DFEH poster discussing prohibitions against discrimination and harassment at a prominent and accessible location in the workplace. If 10% or more of the employees speak a language other than English, the poster must be provided in those languages.
3. Existing Sexual Harassment Training Requirements:
As noted above, FEHA currently requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisory employees within six months of the assumption of a supervisory position and once every two years thereafter. Last year SB 396 (Lara), Chapter 858, Statutes of 2017 expanded the training requirements to include harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
Employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training in a classroom setting, through interactive E-learning, or through a live webinar and must include, among others, the following components:
- The definition of sexual harassment under the FEHA;
- The statutes and case-law prohibiting and preventing sexual harassment;
- The types of conduct that can be sexual harassment;
- The remedies available for victims of sexual harassment;
- Strategies to prevent sexual harassment;
- Supervisors’ obligation to report harassment;
Over the last couple of years, industry specific sexual harassment prevention training requirements have been enacted in the following areas:
In 2014, SB 1087 (Monning) was signed into law requiring all farm labor contractors operating in the state, as a condition of obtaining or renewing a license, to provide sexual harassment prevention training to supervisors and employees. Found under Labor Code §1684-1697, the provisions require that the training be administered by the licensee or appropriate designee of the licensee and must include specific components consistent with FEHA, including the use of DFEH’s sexual harassment pamphlet and requires the licensee to keep a record of all employees who have received the training.
In 2016, AB 1978 (Gonzalez), was enacted requiring the DLSE to establish a sexual violence and harassment prevention training requirement for employees and employers in the janitorial services industry. To assist in developing these standards, the director of DIR must convene an advisory committee, composed of representatives from DIR, employers and labor, to recommend requirements for a sexual harassment prevention training program. (Labor Code §1429.5)
4. Need for this bill?
According to the author, “Nationwide, nearly 50 workers are sexually assaulted on the job each day, according to estimates from the US Department of Justice[1]. In Fiscal Year 2013, the combined total number of harassment charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and state and local Fair Employment Practices Agencies was over 30,000. More than 10,000 of these charges involved sexual harassment, and 82 percent were brought by women[2]. The number of complaints currently filed by workers does not come close to capturing how pervasive this issue is. It is estimated that 60 percent of workers who have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace have not reported it3. Victims in the workplace understand that if they try to report the harassment, a supervisor can retaliate by assigning an extremely difficult schedule or worse job duties, or making them work in unsafe conditions. Dr. Mindy Bergman provided expert testimony on the pervasive culture of sexual harassment to the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace in 2015. In her testimony, she elaborated on why the fear of retaliation prevents women from reporting sexual misconduct in the first place. Bergman explains, “It is actually unreasonable for employees to report harassment to their companies because minimization and retaliation [have] created further damage to people who had already been harassed. Reporting is a gamble that is not worth taking in terms of individual well-being.”[3]
The author further states that the allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation. The author believes this bill would address the threat of retaliation as a barrier for workers seeking justice and safety, especially those earning low wages, to address sexual harassment in the workplace.
5. Double Referral:
This bill has been double referred and was previously heard and passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
6. Staff Comments:
This bill would add Chapter 4.7 Sexual Harassment to the Labor Code to require notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment prevention. Among other things, the bill would require that the Labor Commissioner develop and make available a written notice on sexual harassment, as specified, as well as create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault. As noted above, existing law under FEHA already requires employers to provide and post notices with similar information and requires the DFEH to develop these materials for employer use. Existing law also establishes a complaint and investigation procedure for aggrieved employees under the jurisdiction of the DFEH. Should existing provisions under FEHA, and the DFEH jurisdiction, be expanded to include the population that this bill seeks to capture rather than create new requirements in a different code section? Should DFEH and the Labor Commissioner simultaneously have jurisdiction over these types of employee claims?
Under FEHA, existing law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least 2 hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within 6 months of assuming supervisorial duties and once every 2 years. This bill would require that employers with 25 or more employees train all nonsupervisory employers at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace. Should sexual harassment prevention requirements be uniform, to the extent possible, throughout the various provisions in code?
Technical Amendment Suggestions:
- On page 4, section 230(c), the author may wish to add “sexual harassment” to the list of reasons under which an employer may not discharge or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee to be consistent with the changes proposed by the bill in other relevant sections of the Labor Code.
- This bill extends the timeframe that an employee who is a victim of an unlawful discharge, discrimination or retaliation, per the above prohibitions, has to file a claim with the DLSE from the current one year to three years from the date of the occurrence of the violation. On page 11, line 14, it still says “one year.” The author may wish to amend the bill to clarify that it is “three years” to be consistent with the other changes proposed in the bill.
7. Proponent Arguments:
According to proponents, this bill will enact stronger accountability measures to hold employers responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment for those they employ. The bill will establish workforce protections against sexual harassment that is especially pervasive amongst low-wage workforces. They argue that workers in low-wage jobs, three-quarters of whom are women, are especially vulnerable to harassment in the workplace. A large portion of these workers can be more susceptible to becoming targets of abuse due to their immigration status, isolated working conditions, financial hardship, and a lack of basic education of their rights and protections under the law. Further, they argue that low-wage workers may also fear retaliation for making a claim, and could be risking their job and ability to provide for their children and families when seeking to report sexual harassment.
The California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who sponsored prior legislation related to sexual harassment prevention training obligation on farm labor contractors, writes in support that the measure not only closes important gaps in sexual harassment training obligations in the remainder of the agricultural industry by extending training obligations to larger growers, but also strengthens existing obligations on larger employers in other industries.
8. Opponent Arguments:
A coalition of employers, including the California Chamber of Commerce, writes in opposition arguing that this measure “would create another pathway of costly litigation against employers for issues that are already protected under the FEHA.” They argue that given existing sexual harassment protections and training requirements in the FEHA, placing these additional sexual harassment protections and training requirements in the Labor Code is “completely misplaced and unnecessary, leaving the employer in the position of having to decipher and comply with two potentially conflicting statutes.”
The Chamber and others argue that the measure “contradicts the current statute of limitations prescribed by FEHA for sexual harassment” which is one year from the most recent harassing or discriminatory event. They continue this measure “not only triples the statute of limitations for sexual harassment complaints, but also it provides the LC with jurisdiction over these complaints.” They assert jurisdiction over sexual harassment complaints should remain with DFEH in order to prevent confusion and contradictory regulations (including contradictory timelines for filing a complaint).
The coalition further argues that the sexual harassment definition found in the bill is very broad and would allow an employee to claim job-protected leave for any allegation of sexual harassment. They state, “DFEH and the courts determine what constitutes actionable sexual harassment. While certain actions involving sexual harassment may be inappropriate, the behavior must be severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of the work environment to be unlawful.” They note that this bill does not require a determination of whether the behavior is unlawful sexual harassment before the employee can take job-protected leave.
The Chamber and the coalition also argue that this bill extends these employment protections to immediate family members of the victim, with the term being broadly defined. They write, “Under this bill, employees could allege that they were sexually harassed by a co-worker when the co-worker accidentally brushed up against them. The employee could claim job-protected leave and now the employee’s brother or stepsister could also go out on job-protected leave. The employee and the employee’s brother or stepsister would not even need to provide any type of verification from a medical professional or otherwise if they gave advance notice of the leave. Thus, this type of leave is clearly ripe for abuse.”
The Chamber and others assert this measure will unnecessarily expand employer liability. They argue, “FEHA already allows victims who prevail in a sexual harassment suit to obtain compensatory damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. If sexual harassment protection is added to the Labor Code, employers are not only exposed to FEHA remedies, but also now lawsuits under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).” They continue, “PAGA allows an individual to pursue a “representative action” on behalf of similarly aggrieved employees without being subject to the strict filing requirements of a class action. If there are multiple Labor Code violations, penalties are stacked and very quickly add up. In addition, if the employee recovers any dollar amount, the employee is entitled to attorney’s fees, which adds another layer of cost onto the employer.”
The Chamber and others also argue that this measure creates an unfair rebuttable presumption against the employer if the employer takes any corrective action within 90 days of an employee's complaint or opposition to an employer's practice or policy regarding sexual harassment. They claim, “Pursuant to this provision, if an employee who files a claim for sexual harassment is caught stealing the next day and immediately terminated, the employee will be protected under this automatic, rebuttable presumption. The burden will fall on the employer to prove its actions were valid, instead of the burden falling on the employee.”
The Chamber and others also write that they oppose the bill extending joint liability for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination or sexual assault to a business that contracts for services. They argue, “There is no basis that a business that contracts for services should be deemed statutorily liable for sexual harassment or sexual discrimination when there is absolutely no way in which that contractor can engage or force the labor contract company to comply with provisions of FEHA or the Labor Code.” They believe that current law already provides an adequate pathway for civil liability for a business that is actually controlling the employees of another and there is no basis for that analysis to be completely disregarded under this bill.
9. Related Legislation:
SB 1223 (Galgiani), pending in Assembly Appropriations Committee, would require DLSE to work with other agencies to develop construction industry-specific sexual harassment training standards.
SB 1300 (Jackson), pending in Assembly Judiciary Committee, would, among other things, require an employer, as defined, to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all employees within 6 months of their hire and once every 2 years. The bill also would require an employer to provide bystander intervention training, as specified, and to provide information to each employee on how to report harassment.
SB 1343 (Mitchell), pending in Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, would reduce the sexual harassment training requirement threshold from 50 to 5 or more employees, include non-supervisorial employees in the training, and require that the DFEH develop the training course and make it available on the Department’s website.
AB 1576 (Levine), held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file, would have established health and sexual harassment related standards and requirements for models and modeling agencies.
AB 1870 (Reyes, Friedman, and Waldron), pending in Senate Appropriations Committee, would extend the period to three years for which complaints alleging unlawful employment or housing practices may be filed with DFEH.
AB 2079 (Gonzalez Fletcher), pending in Senate Appropriations Committee, requires DIR to form an advisory committee to develop requirements for organizations and peer-trainers that provide janitorial services employers with their required sexual harassment training.
AB 2333 (Levine), pending in Senate Appropriations Committee, requires a talent agency to provide training on sexual harassment prevention to its employees and provide educational materials to its artists, as specified. This bill would also require the Labor Commissioner to develop training and educational materials for talent agencies to use for this purpose.
AB 2366 (Bonta), held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, would extend permitted time off work protections to the immediate family members providing support to victims of sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The contents of AB 2366 were merged and are now included in this bill.
SUPPORT
California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union
California Conference of Machinists
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
California Women’s Law Center
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights
Consumer Attorneys of California
Engineers and Scientists of California, IFPTE Local 20, AFL-CIO
International Longshore & Warehouse Union
Jockey’s Guild
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
Professional and Technical Engineers, IFPTE Local 21, AFL-CIO
SAG-AFTRA
UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO
UNITE-HERE, Local 11
Utility Workers of America
Women’s Foundation of California
Work Equity
OPPOSITION
California Chamber of Commerce
Associated General Contractors
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Agricultural Aircraft Association
California Ambulance Association
California Apartment Association
California Association for Health Services at Home
California Association of Joint Powers Authorities
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Beer and Beverage Distributors
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Fresh Fruit Association
California Grocers Association
California Hotel and Lodging Association
California League of Food Producers
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Civil Justice Association of California
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
League of California Cities
National Federation of Independent Business
North Orange County Chamber
Official Police Garages of Los Angeles
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Plant Health Association
Wine Institute
-- END --
Breslow, Jason. "Who is Responsible for Rape on the Night Shift?" PBS Frontline, July 2015. ↑
“Reality Check: Seventeen Million Reasons Low-Wage Workers Need Strong Protections from Harassment”, National Women’s Law Center, 2014. ↑
Mindy Bergman, written testimony. “Workplace Harassment: Examining the Scope of the Problem and Potential Solutions”.EEOC Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. June 2015. ↑
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Chair
2017-2018 Regular Session
Bill No: AB 3081 (Author:Gonzalez Fletcher)
Version: May 25, 2018
Hearing Date: June 26, 2018
Fiscal: Yes
Urgency: No
Consultant: TSG
SUBJECT
Employment: sexual harassment
DESCRIPTION
This bill would make a series of modifications and additions to the Labor Code designed to deter workplace sexual harassment and to provide victims of sexual harassment with the workplace support they may need to recover from its effects. Specifically, this bill would: (1) prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who take time off to address the impacts of sexual harassment; (2) extend, to family members of the victim, the protection against retaliation for taking time off to address the impacts of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sexual harassment; (3) create a rebuttable presumption, for the 90 days after an employer learns that an employee has been the victim of sexual harassment, that any negative employment action taken against the employee is retaliatory; (4) require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for victims of sexual harassment; (5) increase the statute of limitations for filing a claim of unlawful retaliation arising from an employee’s request for time-off, request for a reasonable accommodation, or status as a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual harassment; (6) require all employers to provide employees with a notice about workplace rights relating to sexual harassment, at the time of hire and annually thereafter; (7) require employers with more than 25 employees to provide sexual harassment prevention trainings to non-supervisorial employees upon hire and every two years after; (8) direct the California Labor Commissioner to establish an online mechanism for receiving complaints of sexual harassment; (9) impose joint and several liability between a labor contractor and a client employer for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or sexual assault of a worker.
BACKGROUND
The #MeToo movement brought renewed public attention to the ongoing, global problem of sexual harassment. Numerous and varied proposals have been put forth as to how to confront the problem.
This bill attempts to address workplace sexual harassment through a comprehensive set of modifications and additions to the California Labor Code. Each of these proposed changes or additions is discussed in greater detail in the Comments to this analysis, below. In broad strokes, however, they may be characterized as: seeking to deter sexual harassment through training and know-your-rights notifications; strengthening workplace protections against retaliation for victims of sexual harassment as they cope and recover from the fallout from what they have endured; and broadening the legal remedies available to victims of workplace sexual harassment and retaliation.
CHANGES TO EXISTING LAW
Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating, retaliating, or taking any adverse action against any employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant engaged in conduct protected under the specified sections of the Labor Code. (Lab. Code Sec. 98.6(a).)
Existing law provides that an employee who has been retaliated against for exercising workplace rights is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages or benefits caused by the employer’s violation. (Lab. Code Sec. 98.6(b) and (c).)
Existing law requires the employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement within six months of the date that the violation occurred and sets forth the process by which complaints will be investigated and remedied. It specifies, however, that any rights and remedies provided by these provisions do not preclude an employee from pursuing any other right or remedy under any other law. (Lab. Code Sec. 98.7.)
Existing law prohibits an employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, from retaliating against an employee for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over the employee or another employee who has the authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, or for providing information to, or testifying before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry, if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of state or federal statute, or any local, state, or federal rule or regulation, regardless of whether disclosing the information is part of the employee’s job duties. (Lab. Code Sec. 1102.5.)
Existing law requires an employer with five or more employees to provide specified notices about sexual harassment to all employees. (Gov. Code Secs. 12926(d) and 12950.)
Existing law requires an employer with fifty or more employees to provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisors within six months of hire and every two years. (Gov. Code Sec. 12950.1.)
Existing law prohibits all employers from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (Lab. Code Sec. 230(e).)
Existing law prohibits all employers from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee for taking time off to seek legal relief from incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (Lab. Code Sec. 230(c).)
Existing law requires all employers provide reasonable accommodations for a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking who requests an accommodation for the safety of the victim while at work. (Lab. Code Sec. 230(f).)
Existing law prohibits an employer with 25 or more employees from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee for taking time off for medical attention, obtaining services, psychological counseling, or safety planning necessitated by incidents of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (Lab. Code Sec. 230.1.)
Existing law makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization, employment agency, apprenticeship training program or any training program leading to employment, or any other person to sexually harass an employee, an applicant, an unpaid intern or volunteer, or an independent contractor. (Gov. Code Sec. 12940(j)(1).)
Existing law makes it an unlawful employment practice for any employer, labor organization, employment agency, or person to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against any person because the person has opposed sexual harassment or because the person has filed a complaint, testified, or assisted in any proceeding regarding an allegation of sexual harassment. (Lab. Code Sec. 12940(h).)
Existing law enables workers to file administrative complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation for opposing sexual harassment with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. (Gov. Code Sec. 12960.)
Existing law holds client employers jointly and severally liable, together with labor contractors, for the payment of wages and maintaining workers’ compensation coverage for all workers supplied by the labor contractor. (Lab. Code Sec. 2810.3.)
This bill would extend a provision of existing law that protects victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from discharge, discrimination and retaliation to employees who are victims of sexual harassment, as well as to employees who take time off from work to assist a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
This bill would extend a provision of existing law that provides job protected leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to perform certain tasks related to their safety and wellbeing to victims of sexual harassment, as well as to employees assisting a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
This bill would extend a provision of existing law that provides reasonable accommodation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to employees who are victims of sexual harassment.
This bill would increase the time that an employee may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) for violation of these provisions from one year to three years.
This bill would establish a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the date the employer had actual knowledge of the victim’s status.
This bill would create new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment.
This bill would hold client employers jointly and severally liable, together with labor contractors, for the sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or sexual assault of a worker by a labor contractor or another worker.
This bill would authorize the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement sexual harassment reporting provisions.
COMMENT
1. Stated need for the bill
According to the author:
AB 3081 addresses the threat of retaliation as a barrier for workers seeking justice and safety, especially those earning low-wages, to address sexual harassment in the workplace. The bill would accomplish this by establishing a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer discriminates against the worker in any way within the 90-day period after they have filed a sexual harassment complaint, and by extending the statute of limitation on reporting retaliation that a worker experiences after reporting sexual harassment to three years. With the increasing prevalence of the gig economy and lack of clarity in statute regarding who is ultimately responsible for ensuring workers’ safety, the bill also requires employers to share civil legal responsibility for all workers who are provided by a contractor in cases of sexual harassment and assault.
Finally, the bill’s provisions establish increased sexual harassment training for workers, and more frequent communication of workers’ rights. These provisions aim to ensure workers are aware of their rights and have adequate resources at their disposal to identify the best recourse to address sexual harassment in the workplace; this would include the ability to anonymously report sexual misconduct incidents to the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
In support of the bill, the California Labor Federation writes:
From actors to farmworkers, and just about every workplace in between, sexual harassment remains ever-present on the job for far too many women. Just like all labor abuses, it is more pervasive for low-wage workers, who have less bargaining power at the workplace. The more unequal the power dynamic, the harder it becomes for workers to challenge abuse. […]
With courageous women coming forward to speak out about sexual harassment in every field, we have a unique opportunity to make a real change. But these efforts must extend to women most at risk: low wage workers, immigrant workers, and women of color. AB 3081 looks to protect these workers and make it easier for them to speak out.
2. Concerns expressed about the bill
In opposition to the bill, the California Chamber of Commerce and 34 co-signatories write:
[AB 3081] would create another pathway of costly litigation against employers for issues that are already protected under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
The Chamber and its co-signatories’ specific concerns are raised in the Comments below, together with discussion of the corresponding provisions of the bill.
3. Significant drafting clean up needed
As a preliminary matter, there are a number of technical issues with the bill as it is currently drafted. In some cases, these errors make it difficult to analyze precisely what the bill proposes to accomplish. As a very simple example, one subdivision in the bill declares that “[a]s used in this subdivision, ‘worker’ includes either an employee or an independent contractor.” That is the entire subdivision. Presumably, the author means the word “chapter” where the word “subdivision” currently appears, and it is possible to analyze the bill based on suppositions of this nature throughout, but significant clean-up is needed to harmonize the stated intent of this bill with what is in print.
The author’s office has indicated an awareness of these issues and assures the Committee that the author is preparing amendments that would address them. In the meantime, this analysis will endeavor to point out, through the use of footnotes, places in the bill where the current drafting should be clarified.
4. Extending workplace protections to victims of sexual harassment
Like sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking, sexual harassment takes a serious emotional and psychological toll on its victims. Sexual harassment is not merely bothersome to its victims; it can also be humiliating and frightening, undermining the victim’s sense of safety, confidence, and self-worth.
Existing law provides a series of protections for workers who have become victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking. (Lab. Code Secs. 230 and 230.1.) Specifically, all employers are prohibited from discharging, or discriminating, or otherwise retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (Lab. Codes Sec. 230(e).) Similarly, all employers are prohibited from retaliating against an employee for taking time off to seek legal relief from those crimes; things like restraining orders, for instance. (Lab. Code Sec. 230(c).) Finally, all employers must grant requests for reasonable accommodations relating to an employee victim’s safety at work. (Lab. Code Sec. 230(f).) In the case of employers with 25 employees or more, an employer must also grant victims of stalking, sexual assault, or domestic violence time off to seek medical attention, counseling, and related services to restore their safety and well-being. (Lab. Code Sec. 230.1.)
In this way, existing law ensures that victims of stalking, domestic violence, and sexual assault can take the necessary steps to recover from what they have endured, without the fear of losing their jobs as a result.
This bill appears intended to extend these same protections to victims of sexual harassment as well.[1]
5. Extending workplace protections to family members of victims
Just as family members can provide critical support during times of illness, the presence and assistance of family members can be vital to recovery for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Recognizing this, this bill would extend to family members the same possibility of taking job-protected time off that the victims themselves have under existing law (or, in the case of sexual harassment, that would be extended to the victim by this bill if enacted.)
The California Chamber of Commerce and its co-signatories oppose this element of the bill, among others, as unnecessary and open to exploitation by unscrupulous workers looking for excuses to take time off work. They write:
[T]his type of leave is clearly ripe for abuse. …California already provides leaves of absence for family members… […] including: paid sick days, school activities leave, kin care, paid family leave program, new parent leave, pregnancy disability leave, and the California Family Rights Act. […] Imposing another leave of absence is simply unnecessary and overly burdensome since family members can take time off by utilizing other types of leave.
6. Creating a temporary rebuttable presumption of retaliation for negative employment action taken against the employee
To reinforce worker’s protections when they have been a victim of sexual harassment, this bill would also create a temporary rebuttable presumption that the employer’s motivation was retaliatory, if the employer takes any negative employment action against the employee within 90 days of learning that the employee is the victim of sexual harassment.[2]
In opposition to this provision, the Chamber and its co-signatories write:
Pursuant to this provision, if an employee who files a claim for sexual harassment is caught stealing the next day and immediately terminated, the employee will be protected under this automatic, rebuttable presumption. The burden will fall on the employer to prove its actions were valid, instead of the burden falling on the employee.
Descriptively, the Chamber’s example is accurate, but it may give a false impression of the impact of the rebuttable presumption proposed by the bill. A worker “caught stealing” the day after filing a claim of sexual harassment would be covered by the rebuttable presumption of retaliation, but if the worker was indeed “caught stealing,” the employer need not hesitate to fire that worker because the rebuttable presumption can easily be refuted in such a case. The rebuttable presumption is not intended to operate, and would not serve, to protect a worker actually “caught stealing” or anything similarly obvious and egregious.
The purpose behind the rebuttable presumption is to make it more difficult to invent something like an allegation of theft as a pretext to fire a worker who has just filed a sexual harassment complaint, thereby getting rid of the worker, the problem, and the associated potential for liability. Temporarily shifting the burden of proof to the employer does not prevent firing workers who misbehave; it just requires that the employer demonstrate that the misbehavior is the genuine reason for the firing.
7. Increasing the statute of limitations for filing a claim of unlawful retaliation
Under the existing law, employees have one year from the time of being retaliated against, in violation of the protections described in the foregoing comments, to file a claim with the Labor Commission. (Lab. Code sec. 230(h)(2).) The same statute of limitations currently applies to filing a retaliation complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (Gov. Code Sec. 12960), though SB 1870 (Reyes, 2018), which passed out of this Committee last week, would extend that deadline to three years.
This bill would extend, from one to three years, the statute of limitations for filing a claim with the Labor Commissioner alleging retaliation for exercising the workplace rights that protect victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, and (through this bill) sexual harassment.[3]
Statutes of limitation serve a variety of purposes. Legal scholars Tyler Ochoa and Andrew Wistrich have explained that, in broad strokes, these legal deadlines promote legal repose, minimize the deterioration of evidence, reward diligence, encourage prompt enforcement of substantive law, avoid retroactive application of contemporary standards, and reduce the overall volume of litigation. On the other hand, short statutes of limitation run contrary to other fundamental public policy concerns. Most notably, public policy favors adjudicating legal claims on their merits, rather than on the basis of arbitrary deadlines.[4]
Since the bill does not expressly say otherwise, the proposed extension of the statute of limitation proposed in the bill would not operate retroactively, so as to revive lapsed claims. (Quarry v. Doe I (Quarry) (2012) 53 Cal.4th 945, 955-957 (“Lapsed claims will not be considered revived without express language of revival.”)
8. Applicable definition of sexual harassment for retaliation purposes
As discussed in the immediately foregoing comments, this bill would extend a number of existing workplace protections for victims of sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence, to victims of sexual harassment.
So that both employees and employers would better understand when these new protections would apply, the bill helpfully includes a definition of sexual harassment. That definition runs close to what is often referred to as sexual harassment in public conversation, but it is much broader than the legal standard that courts have used to define sexual harassment.
That, and the fact that the definition of sexual harassment in the bill is not tied to the workplace, worries the Chamber of Commerce and their co-signatories. In their opposition letter, they write:
While certain actions involving sexual harassment may be inappropriate, the behavior must be severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of the work environment to be unlawful. This is because the court should not be involved in every workplace dispute involving even an awkward glance.
However, this bill does not require a determination of whether the behavior is unlawful sexual harassment before the employee can take job-protected leave. The alleged sexual harassment does not even need to occur in the workplace or involve co-workers for this leave to apply. Thus, because of the broad definition of sexual harassment and no legal determination requirement, an employee can utilize a protected leave of absence simply because a co-worker made one, tasteless joke or someone accidently brushed up against him or her.
The fact that the sexual harassment would not have to be connected with the workplace is consistent with the existing protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The idea behind those protections is not that the employer is necessarily at fault for the situation, but that something grave and harmful has happened to the employee, through no fault of the employee’s own, and that the employee may need some time off or reasonable accommodations to handle the situation, much like an employee might in the case of an illness or injury. That same rationale also explains why any time off that any employee takes under the existing protection is unpaid: what the employee is dealing with is not necessarily the fault of the employer, either (if it were, the employer would be liable for it).
The fact that the definition of sexual harassment proposed by the bill does not require the unwelcome conduct to be severe or pervasive may be more problematic. Arguably, as soon as employers know of inappropriate, unwelcome behavior taking place in the workplace, employers should have a duty to take reasonable steps to try to prevent that behavior from recurring. That appears to be the intent behind Government Code Section 12940(k), which requires employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment from occurring, although court interpretation of that law has arguably undermined that purpose. (See Dickson v. Burke Williams, Inc. (2015) 234 Cal.App.4th 1307, 1314; Trujillo v. North County Transit Dist. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 280, 289.)
But this bill deals with sexual harassment in quite a different context: not what steps are needed to prevent sexual harassment from happening, but what accommodations should be provided to a victim to recover from after sexual harassment has already taken place. Viewed in that light, it may be appropriate to define sexual harassment as being unwelcome, inappropriate conduct that is either severe or pervasive for purposes of this statute. All unwelcome, inappropriate conduct has an impact, and this bill could be praised for taking that impact seriously. On the other hand, arguably only unwelcome, inappropriate conduct that is severe or pervasive justifies the need for job-protected time off of work to recover. Without the caveat that the inappropriate, unwanted conduct must be severe or pervasive, the bill’s definition of “sexual harassment” does appear to allow an employee who got a “single, awkward glance” on a street corner one evening to demand the next day off of work as a result.
9. Employee notice about workplace rights relating to sexual harassment
This bill would require all employers to provide employees with a notice about workplace rights relating to sexual harassment, at the time of hire and annually thereafter. In most respects, this requirement would be identical to employer’s existing obligations under Government Code Section 12950.
10. Increased sexual harassment prevention training requirements
Existing law requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide all supervisors with two hours of sexual harassment prevention training within six months of hire and every two years after that. (Gov. Code Sec. 12950.1.) This bill would, through provisions added to the Labor Code, require similar sexual harassment prevention training for nonsupervisorial employees for any employer with 25 or more employees.
In this way, this bill would go partway to accomplishing what both SB 1300 (Jackson, 2018) and SB 1343 (Mitchell, 2018) also propose. SB 1300 would require all employers with five or more employees (or 50 or more independent contractors) to provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all employees. SB 1300 would also require inclusion of a bystander intervention training element. Like SB 1300, SB 1343 would also require employers with five or more employees (or five or more independent contractors) to train all employees on sexual harassment prevention, but SB 1343 would only require one hour of training for nonsupervisorial employees, and SB 1343 calls for the Department of Fair Employment and Housing to develop an interactive online training module that employers could use to fulfill the training requirement.
11. Directing the Labor Commissioner to establish an online mechanism for receiving complaints of sexual harassment
Under existing law, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) receives complaints of unlawful employment practices, including incidents of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, among other things. (Gov. Code Sec. 12960.) Though not required by the statute itself, DFEH has made it possible for workers to submit complaints online.
This bill would direct the Labor Commissioner to create a system for receiving complaints of workplace sexual harassment both online and through the mail, including anonymous complaints. The bill does not specify what the Labor Commissioner would do with these complaints once they are received, though presumably the intention is that the Labor Commissioner would investigate them and perhaps engage in enforcement as well. The bill does indicate that the Labor Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this component of the bill.
12. Relevance of putting the bill’s provisions under the Labor Code
As detailed in the foregoing Comments, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) already requires employers to give notification about the illegality of workplace sexual harassment at the time of hire, already requires some sexual harassment prevention training, and already provides for a mechanism by which employees can submit an administrative complaint alleging sexual harassment. This bill proposes to enact very similar provisions, but housed within the Labor Code, rather than under the auspices of FEHA.
Placing a workplace right within the Labor Code rather than under FEHA makes a difference, because the enforcement remedies and mechanisms are distinct. For instance, complaints under FEHA come with a requirement to exhaust administrative remedies before proceeding to court; under the Labor Code, the employee can usually proceed directly to court. Another difference is who receives and investigates complaints: the California Labor Commissioner is responsible for enforcing the Labor Code, while the Department of Fair Employment and Housing is tasked with ensuring compliance with FEHA.
Perhaps most significantly, however, violations of the Labor Code can often be litigated under the Private Attorneys General Act, frequently known simply as “PAGA.” (Lab. Code Secs. 2698-2699.5.) In PAGA lawsuits, the employee plaintiff acts as a stand-in for the Labor Commissioner. To take on this role, however, the employee plaintiff in a PAGA lawsuit must first notify the Labor Commissioner of the case. If the Labor Commissioner fails or refuses to bring the case within 60 days, then the employee may proceed privately. If the employee plaintiff then prevails in the PAGA lawsuit, the plaintiff gets to keep 25 percent of any resulting penalties while the remaining 75 percent goes to the state. (Lab. Code Sec. 2699(i).) The prevailing plaintiff’s attorney may also recover attorney fees. (Lab. Code Sec. 2699(g).)
To the proponents of this bill, these additional enforcement mechanisms and remedies represent the virtue of placing this bill’s provisions under the Labor Code. Since PAGA lawsuits are a powerful method for enforcing compliance, putting notice requirements, training requirements, and the possibility of filing complaints under the authority of the Labor Code may result in employers taking those requirements much more seriously, thus improving that chances these laws will have their intended effect of rooting out workplace sexual harassment.
Not surprisingly, what the proponents of the bill view as a potential strength is, from the perspective of the opposition, a source of concern. The Chamber and its co-signatories write:
AB 3081 unnecessarily expands employer liability. FEHA already allows victims who prevail in a sexual harassment suit to obtain compensatory damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. If sexual harassment protection is added to the Labor Code, employers are not only exposed to FEHA remedies, but also now lawsuits under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
PAGA allows an individual to pursue a “representative action” on behalf of similarly aggrieved employees without being subject to the strict filing requirements of a class action. If there are multiple Labor Code violations, penalties are stacked and very quickly add up. In addition, if the employee recovers any dollar amount, the employee is entitled to attorney’s fees, which adds another layer of cost onto the employer.
Moreover, the Chamber and its co-signatories argue, this bill would add its provisions to the law without removing the nearly identical provisions in the Government Code, Thus, they write:
AB 3081 places additional, often duplicative, sexual harassment protections and training requirements in the Labor Code. These provisions are completely misplaced, leaving the employer in the position of having to decipher and comply with two potentially conflicting statutes. Additionally, the Labor Commissioner and DFEH would have the authority to simultaneously promulgate separate and potentially conflicting regulations. This would lead to tremendous confusion for employers who are trying to adequately comply with the law.
13. Imposing joint and several liability between a labor contractor and a client employer for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or sexual assault of a worker
In the traditional employer-employee relationship, a business hires the employee, tells the employee what to do, and, once the work is done, pays the wages. Sometimes, however, instead of hiring, directing, and paying a workforce themselves, businesses will hire a “labor contractor” to fill this role. The classic example of this is a farm labor contractor: rather than hire individual employees to pick a crop, growers frequently hire a labor contractor to recruit, manage, and pay farmworkers to get the job done on the grower’s behalf. “Temp agencies” are another variation on this theme, though in a typical “temp agency” scenario, the agency recruits the worker and pays the worker, but it is the business that tells the “temp” what to do. Further variations on these more traditional models are cropping up in the form of online platforms that “crowdsource” labor: businesses like Uber and Task Rabbit.
Arrangements like these are known as joint employer situations and they raise tricky questions about who should be held responsible in the event of workplace violations, such as sexual harassment. Under existing California law, the key determinant of who is liable in a joint employer situation is who exerted control over the working conditions. (See Martinez v. Combs (2010) 49 Cal.4th 35 (2010).) Thus, a business that pays a labor contractor or other third party responsible for bringing workers to the job will generally be jointly and severally liable for what happens in the workplace, including sexual harassment, but only if the business has the requisite degree of control over the conditions of employment.
Proponents of this standard believe it appropriately assigns legal responsibility to the party or parties that actually control the situation. Critics of the standard point out that it incentivizes client employers to avoid exercising any control over the workplace, in order to avoid liability, which leaves workers to fend for themselves against the labor contractor.
In the context of sexual harassment, for instance, UNITEHERE! Local 11 provides the following example:
[t]ake the case of [S.P.], a former dishwasher at… a fancy hotel along the California coast. Like many dishwashers at [the resort], [S.P.] was employed through a temporary staffing agency. Shortly after she began working, [S.P.]’s male supervisor allegedly began to sexually harass her. She later filed a lawsuit against the [hotel] and the staffing agency, alleging, among other claims, that the supervisor pursued her sexually over a period of months and tried to kiss her in a storage room. She alleged that when she rebuffed his sexual advances, the supervisor retaliated against her, changing her schedule and cutting her hours so that she was working too little to support herself. After [S.P.] came forward to report the sexual harassment, she was fired.
Even though [S.P.] worked each day at the [hotel], washing the resort’s dishes alongside the resort’s directly employed employees and managers, the [hotel] denied responsibility in part because the supervisor who allegedly harassed her was employed by the staffing agency. In legal papers, for example, the [hotel] asserted that [S.P.]’s discrimination claim should be dismissed in part because she could not “show that there was ever an employer and employee relationship” between herself and the [hotel] defendants.
Recognizing the fundamental importance of getting paid and having insurance coverage for workplace injuries, California law currently makes an exception to the general rule regarding control over the workplace for payment of wages and workers’ compensation. As to those two things, strict joint and several liability applies between a labor contractor and a client employer, regardless of the degree of control that either exerts over the workplace. (Lab. Code Sec. 2810.3(b).)
This bill would add sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, and sexual assault[5] to the list of things for which labor contractors and client employers are both strictly liable, jointly and severally. The liability would apply as to both employees and independent contractors.
In opposition to this provision (and the bill more generally) the Chamber and its co-signatories write:
There is no basis that a business that contracts for services should be deemed statutorily liable for sexual harassment or sexual discrimination when there is absolutely no way in which that contractor can engage or force the labor contract company to comply with provisions of FEHA or the Labor Code.
From the proponents’ point of view, however, the whole point of expanding strict joint and several liability would be to ensure that client employers find a way to engage or force the labor contract company to comply with the law, or, if they cannot, simply refrain from utilizing labor contract companies altogether. In other words, the intent is to prevent businesses from interposing a labor contractor to avoid legal responsibility for what takes place in their workforce, at least with respect to harassment, discrimination, and sexual assault, in addition to wages and workers’ compensation coverage. In support of the bill, the California Labor Federation writes:
Today, women workers are increasingly hired as part-time workers with no schedule or guarantee of hours, as temporary workers with no clear employer, and as independent contractors without basic labor rights. All of these arrangements make women workers much more vulnerable to employer abuse and coercion. A boss can easily cut their hours or move them to the night shift if they reject his advances or report abuses. If we want to empower women, we need to extend great protections to workers in the growing contingent economy.
This bill will extend client employer liability to sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination, offer greater protection for temporary and contract workers. Under this bill, companies can no longer turn a blind eye to worker abuses by contractors.
14. Proposed Amendments
In order to address a number of the issues set forth in the analysis, above, the author has offered to incorporate the following amendments into the bill. If the bill passes out of this Committee, it must be heard in the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on June 27, 2018. In order to facilitate timely transition of the bill to that committee, the amendments offered here will be processed in the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations.
Amendment 1
On page 4, in line 15, after “assault,” insert:
sexual harassment,
Amendment 2
On page 5, in line 20, after “(e)” insert:
(1)
Amendment 3
On page 5, in line 22, strike out “either of the following:”
Amendment 4
On page 5, in line 23, strike out “(1) A” and, after “assault,” insert:
sexual harassment,
Amendment 5
On page 5, strike out lines 26 and 27
Amendment 6
On page 5, in line 28, strike out “of the status.” and insert:
(2)
Amendment 7
On page 5, in line 29, strike out “paragraph” and insert:
subdivision
Amendment 8
On page 5, in line 33, strike out “employee for exercising the rights”
and insert:
employee.
Amendment 9
On page 5, strike out lines 34 through 37 inclusive
Amendment 10
On page 9, in line 15, after “means” insert:
severe or pervasive
Amendment 11
On page 11, in line 14, strike out “one year” and insert:
three years
Amendment 12
On page 15, in line 7, strike out “subdivision,” and insert:
chapter,
Support: California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union; California Conference of Machinists; California Domestic Workers Coalition; California Labor Federation; California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation; California Teamsters Public Affairs Council; California Women’s Law Center (CWLC); Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); Consumer Attorneys of California; Engineers and Scientists of CA, Local 20; International Longshore & Warehouse Union; Jockeys’ Guild; National Association of Social Workers – California Chapter; Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21; SAG-AFTRA; SEIU California; UNITE HERE, AFL/CIO; UNITE-HERE! Local 11; Utility Workers of America; Women’s Foundation of California; Work Equity
Opposition: Associated General Contractors; Brea Chamber of Commerce; California Agricultural Aircraft Association; California Ambulance Association; California Apartment Association; California Association for Health Services at Home; California Association of Joint Powers Authorities; California Association of Winegrape Growers; California Beer and Beverage Distributors; California Chamber of Commerce; California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association; California Farm Bureau Federation; California Fresh Fruit Association; California Grocers Association; California Hotel and Lodging Association; California League of Food Producers; California Manufacturers and Technology Association; California Restaurant Association; California Retailers Association; Camarillo Chamber of Commerce; Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse; Civil Justice Association of California; Gilroy Chamber of Commerce; Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce; Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce; League of California Cities; National Federation of Independent Business; North Orange County Chamber; Official Police Garages of Los Angeles; Oxnard Chamber of Commerce; Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce; Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce; Western Agricultural Processors Association; Western Plant Health Association; Wine Institute
HISTORY
Source: Author
Related Pending Legislation:
SB 1343 (Mitchell, 2018) would require an employer who employs five or more employees to provide at least one hour of sexual harassment training to all employees by January 1, 2020, and once every two years after that, in addition to the development of a specified training video and posting requirements. SB 1343 is currently pending consideration before the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.
SB 1300 (Jackson, 2018) would, among other provisions, require an employer who employs five or more employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to all employees, including bystander intervention training, once every two years. The bill would also provide guidance to the courts on the “severe or pervasive” legal standard for sexual harassment litigation and prohibit non-disparagement clauses as a condition of hire or continued employment. SB 1300 is currently pending consideration before the Assembly Committee on Judiciary.
AB 2366 (Bonta, 2018) would extend permitted time off protections for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking victims to victims of sexual harassment and to the immediate family members providing support to victims of sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. The provisions of AB 2366 were merged into this bill.
AB 1870 (Reyes, Friedman, and Waldron, 2018) would extend the statute of limitations for filing complaints of violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act from one to three years. AB 1870 is currently pending consideration before the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Prior Legislation:
SB 396 (Lara, Ch. 858, Stats. 2017) required, among other provisions, employers with 50 or more employees to include, as a component of the existing prescribed sexual harassment training and education for supervisors, training inclusive of harassment based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.
SB 295 (Monning, Ch. 424, Stats. 2017) made several additions to the law that governs obtaining and renewing a farmworker labor contracting (FLC) license. Specifically, this bill requires: (1) that sexual harassment prevention training for each agricultural employee be given in the language understood by that employee; (2) that, as part of their license renewal application, FLCs provide the Labor Commissioner (LC) with a complete list of all materials or resources used to provide sexual harassment prevention training to their employees in the prior year; (3) that, as part of their license renewal application, FLCs also include the total number of agricultural employees trained in sexual harassment prevention in the prior year; and (4) that the LC add up the number of sexual harassment prevention trainees annually and post the total on its Web site. This bill also authorizes the LC to assess a civil penalty of $100 for each violation of certain sexual harassment prevention training requirements.
AB 569 (Gonzalez Fletcher, 2017) would have prohibited an employer, or any person acting on behalf of an employer, from taking any adverse action against an employee or their dependent or family member for their reproductive health decisions, including, but not limited to, the timing thereof, or the use of any drug, device, or medical service. Governor Brown vetoed AB 569 on the belief that such acts were already sufficiently prohibited by the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
AB 2337 (Burke, Ch. 355, Stats. 2016) provided that an employer shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under current law protecting employees affected by domestic violence, by providing that information in writing to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request. The bill also required the Labor Commissioner to develop a form that an employer may use to satisfy this notice requirement, as specified.
AB 1978 (Gonzalez Fletcher, Ch. 373, Stats. 2016) required a mandated development of biennial, in-person sexual harassment training for all employees working in the janitorial sector.
SB 1087 (Monning, Ch. 750, Stats. 2014) strengthened the farm labor contractor (FLC) licensing standards by, among other things, increasing bonding requirements and raising licensure fees for licensure enforcement, as specified; and prohibited the FLC who engages in sexual harassment from being issued an FLC license or renewing the license, as specified.
SB 400 (Jackson, Ch. 759, Stats. 2013) expanded the protections given to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking who take time off to obtain relief, support, or care. This bill also prohibited an employer from discharging, retaliating or discriminating against an employee because of their status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and required employers to provide reasonable accommodations for such employees.
AB 1825 (Reyes, Ch. 933, Stats. 2004) mandated all employers with 50 or more employees conduct two hours of sexual harassment prevention training for all supervisory employees.
Prior Vote:
Assembly Floor (Ayes 47, Noes 23)
Assembly Appropriations Committee (Ayes 12, Noes 4)
Assembly Judiciary Committee (Ayes 8, Noes 2)
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee (Ayes 5, Noes 1)
**************
Because of what appear to be drafting errors, the bill in its current form only partially extends existing protections to victims of sexual harassment. As it is currently written, the bill appears to add sexual harassment to the list of crimes for which victims can take time off to get medical attention, counseling, and other assistance if their employer has 25 or more employees, but would not protect victims of sexual harassment who take time off to get a restraining order. Victims of sexual harassment could request reasonable accommodations for their safety at work, but would not be protected against retaliation based on their status. This does not seem to match the author’s intent, is inconsistent, and runs contrary to the structure of the existing law, which provides the additional protection for time off to seek medical attention, counseling, and related services only in the case of large employers, but offers the more basic protections to all employers regardless of their employer’s size. It seems that the phrase “sexual harassment” was left out in two places, leading to all of this inconsistency and confusion. ↑
The rebuttable presumption, as drafted, would only apply if the employer takes the retaliatory action “for exercising the rights of the employee…” This appears to create circular logic – the action is rebuttably presumed to be retaliatory only if it is done for retaliatory reasons – and seems to defeat the usual purpose of a rebuttable presumption. The idea behind the rebuttable presumption is to ascribe motivation to the act without the need for evidence of it, at least until the employer offers a different, non-retaliatory basis for the action. In addition, as the bill is currently drafted, the rebuttable presumption applies only to sexual harassment. The presumption would apply, more logically, to retaliation grounded on any of the bases for protection in the statute: stalking, sexual assault, domestic violence, or – through this bill – sexual harassment. ↑
As drafted, the bill extends the applicable statute of limitations for violations of Labor Code Section 203 from one to three years, but does not make a parallel extension to the statute of limitations applicable to the companion statute, Labor Code Section 203.1. This also appears to have been a drafting oversight as there is no obvious policy rationale for the distinction. ↑
Tyler T. Ochoa and Andrew Wistrich, The Puzzling Purposes of Statutes of Limitation, 28 Pac.L.J. 453 (1997). ↑
In other statements regarding the intent of this bill, some proponents refer to this provision as extending client employer liability for harassment, discrimination, and sexual assault. If that is indeed the intent, the author will need so clarify, since the language in the bill currently refers only to sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, leaving workers with no equivalent remedy if they are subjected to harassment based on race, religion, LGBTQ status, or any other protected category. ↑
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 3081
Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher and Bonta)
As Amended Ver:
Majority vote
Committee | Votes | Ayes | Noes |
Labor | 5-1 | Thurmond, Gonzalez Fletcher, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, McCarty | Flora |
Judiciary | 8-2 | Mark Stone, Chau, Chiu, Weber, Holden, Kalra, Maienschein, Reyes | Cunningham, Kiley |
Appropriations | 12-4 | Gonzalez Fletcher, Bloom, Bonta, Calderon, Carrillo, Chau, Eggman, Friedman, Eduardo Garcia, Nazarian, Quirk, Reyes | Bigelow, Fong, Gallagher, Obernolte |
SUMMARY: Provides additional protections from discrimination and retaliation against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment or who takes time off from work to support a family member who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking. Specifically, this bill:
- Extends a provision of existing law that protects victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from discharge, discrimination and retaliation to employees who are victims of sexual harassment as well as to employees who take time off from work to assist a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
- Extends a provision of existing law that provides job protected leave for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to perform certain tasks related to their safety and wellbeing to victims of sexual harassment as well as to employees assisting a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment or stalking.
- Extends a provision of existing law that provides reasonable accommodation to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to employees who are victims of sexual harassment.
- Increases the time that an employee may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) for violation of these provisions from one year to three years.
- Establishes a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes an adverse employment action against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the date the employer had actual knowledge of the victim's status.
- Creates new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment.
- Authorizes the Labor Commissioner to adopt regulations to implement sexual harassment reporting provisions.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, one-time special fund costs of $1.1 million and ongoing special fund costs of $850,000 to enforce the provisions of the bill and develop and maintain an internet portal.
COMMENTS: Recent amendments incorporate the provisions of AB 2366 (Bonta) of the current legislative session and delete a prior provision related to the creation of a sexual harassment hotline.
This measure significantly expands the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) role in addressing sexual harassment in the workplace. Traditionally, the lead department with regard to the prohibition and prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace has been the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Though, in recent years there has been a small but steady expansion of DIR's responsibilities in this policy arena.
According to the author, "Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation."
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Richard / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0003283
Date of Hearing: May 16, 2018
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 3081
Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher) – As Amended Ver:May 9, 2018
Policy Committee: | Labor and Employment | Vote: | 5 - 1 |
Judiciary | 8 - 2 | ||
|
|
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill provides a range of additional employee protections and employer training requirements related to sexual harassment in the workplace. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, discriminating, or retaliating against an employee because the employee is a victim of sexual harassment who has provided notice to the employer of this status or where the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There is a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if the employer takes an adverse action against the employee within 90 days after being provided notice of that status.
- Extends the time that an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sexual harassment has to file a retaliation claim with the Department of Labor Enforcement Standards (DLSE), from six months to three years.
- Creates new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment and requires DLSE to establish a 24-hour hotline to provide information resources for workers relating to sexual harassment.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Ongoing annual costs for the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) in the range of $2 million to develop and administer the hotline and respond to additional retaliation claims.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to supporters, AB 3081 will put in place a series of accountability measures that will hold employers responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. The author notes that despite high-profile cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, many workers such as those in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant, and other services industries have been overlooked in the mainstream conversation.
- Retaliation. Existing law prohibits an employer from discharging, retaliating against, or otherwise taking any adverse action against a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, who must take time off work in order to obtain legal relief or to take other measures necessary to protect the health and welfare of the victim or the victim’s child. Moreover, employers with at least 25 employees must also allow a victim to obtain other kinds of services such as counseling or the services of a rape crisis center.
- Sexual harassment training. The Fair Employment Act (FEHA) requires all employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to all supervisory employees within six months of being hired into that position and once every two years thereafter. It also requires employers with five or more employees to post a copy of a poster discussing prohibitions against discrimination and harassment.
Traditionally, DIR, which includes DLSE, is not directly involved in the development or enforcement of rules and training requirements related to sexual harassment in the workplace. However, recently DIR has been tasked with developing programs around sexual harassment prevention.
- Related legislation. AB 2946 (Kalra), of the 2017-18 Legislative Session, extends the time to file a retaliation claim for any retaliation claim with DLSE, from six months to three years. AB 2336 (Bonta), of the 2017-18 Legislative Session, among other provisions, prohibits retaliation or adverse action because an employee is a victim of sexual harassment. Both bills are also being heard today in this committee.
Analysis Prepared by: Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: April 24, 2018
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Mark Stone, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 3081
Author:(Gonzalez Fletcher) – As Amended Ver:March 22, 2018
SUBJECT: Employment: sexual harassment
KEY ISSUES:
- Should the time that an employee has to file certain retaliation claims with the Division of Labor Enforcement Standards be increased from the current time of six months to either one year or three years, depending on the reason for the retaliation?
- Should an employer be prohibited from discharging or taking any adverse action against an employee because that employee is a victim of sexual harassment?
- Should notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment be increased and should the Labor Commission create a 24-hour hotline to provide informational resources to employees regarding sexual harassment?
SYNOPSIS
This bill makes four changes to existing law that will provide greater protections for employees who are, or may become, victims of sexual harassment. First, the bill extends a provision of existing law that protects victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from discharge or adverse actions so that this same protection will also be available to victims of sexual harassment. Second, the bill increases the time that an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) from six months to three years. (It also increases the amount of time that a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may file a retaliation claim with DLSE from six months to one year.) Third, this bill adds to an employer's obligation to provide employees with notices and training relating to sexual harassment prevention. In addition to generally enhancing the content of notice and training that is already required under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the bill would also require training for any employer with more than 25 employees (whereas under existing law, FEHA requires training for employers with more than 50 employees). Finally, this bill requires the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour informational hotline regarding sexual harassment and requires the Labor Commissioner to improve means for employees to submit sexual harassment complaints, including by allowing anonymous submissions through an Internet Web site portal. While these common sense measures are fairly non-controversial, or so it would seem, the Committee analysis suggests two clarifying and strengthening amendments that the author may wish to consider. Although the bill had several supporters and opponents when this bill was heard in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, no letters either for or against had been received by the Committee at the time of this writing. Therefore, formally there is no official registered support or opposition.
SUMMARY: Provides additional protections for employees who are victims of sexual harassment, extends sexual harassment prevention training, as specified, and establishes a resource hotline for victims of sexual harassment. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because the employee is a victim of sexual harassment who has provided notice to the employer of this status or where the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
- Creates a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation, for purposes of the prohibition above, if the employer discharges or takes any other adverse action against the employee within 90 days after the employee files a sexual harassment claim.
- Extends the time that an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment has to file a retaliation claim with the Department of Labor Enforcement Standards (DLSE) from the current time of six months to one or three years, as follows:
- An employee who is discharged or otherwise retaliated against because of his or her status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may file a complaint within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation.
- An employee who is discharged or otherwise retaliated against because of his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment may file a complaint within three years from the date of the occurrence of the violation.
- Adds a chapter to the Labor Code requiring new notice and training requirements related to sexual harassment and requires the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to provide information resources for workers relating to sexual harassment. Specifically, this new chapter does the following:
- Requires an employer, at the time of hiring and on an annual basis thereafter, to provide each with employee with written notice (in the employee's primary language) that contains specified information related to the legal definition of sexual harassment, descriptions of sexual harassment, and the manner of making complaints and seeking remedies from appropriate entities.
- Requires an employer with more than 25 employees to provide training for all nonsupervisory employees and specifies the content and the manner of that training.
- Requires the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections from sexual harassment in the workplace. Requires, additionally, that the Labor Commissioner create a variety of means for employees to submit complaints, including by submission through an Internet Web site portal. Specifies, however, that the Labor Commissioner shall not require any person submitting an allegation to provide his or her name or contact information and shall make clear that such information is not required in order to submit an allegation.
EXISTING LAW:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating, retaliating, or taking any adverse action against any employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant engaged in certain protected conduct. Provides that an aggrieved employee is entitled to reinstatement and reimbursement for lost wages or benefits caused by the employer's violation. Requires the employee to file a complaint with the DLSE within six months of the date that the violation occurred and sets forth the process by which complaints will be investigated and remedied. Specifies, however, that any rights and remedies provided by these provisions do not preclude an employee from pursuing any other right or remedy under any other law. (Labor Code Sections 98.6 and 98.7.)
- Prohibits an employer, or any person acting on behalf of the employer, from retaliating against an employee for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person with authority over the employee or another employee who has the authority to investigate, discover, or correct the violation or noncompliance, or for providing information to, or testifying before, any public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry, if the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of state or federal statute, or any local, state, or federal rule or regulation, regardless of whether disclosing the information is part of the employee's job duties. Specifies penalties for a violation of this provision. (Labor Code Section 1102.5.)
- Requires an employer to provide specified notices about sexual harassment to all employees and requires an employer with fifty or more employees to provide sexual harassment prevention training, as specified. (Government Code Sections 12950 and 12950.1.)
- Prohibits an employer from discharging, or discriminating or retaliating against, an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, as specified, and requires an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations for an employee who is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. (Labor Code Section 230 (e)-(f).)
FISCAL EFFECT: As currently in print this bill is keyed fiscal.
COMMENTS: This bill makes four changes to existing law that will provide greater protections for employees who are, or may become, victims of sexual harassment. First, this bill extends a provision of existing law that protects victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from discharge or adverse actions to employees who are victims of sexual harassment. Second, this bill increases the time that an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment may file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) from six months to three years. (It also increases the amount of time that a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking may file a retaliation claim with DLSE from six months to one year.) Third, this bill expands on the employer's obligation to provide employees with notices and training relating to sexual harassment prevention. In addition to enhancing content of notice and training that is already required under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the bill would also require training for any employer with more than 25 employees (whereas under existing law, FEHA requires training for employers with more than 50 employees). Finally, this bill requires the Labor Commissioner to establish a 24-hour hotline providing information on sexual harassment and requires the Labor Commissioner to improve means for employees to submit sexual harassment complaints, including by allowing anonymous submissions through an Internet Web site portal.
Protection from Retaliation and Extension of Time to File: Existing law allows employees who believe that they have been fired or retaliated against in violation of the law to file a complaint with DLSE within six months after the occurrence of the violation. This bill would amend a statute that prevents an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee because of that employee's status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, in order to also prohibit an employer from discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee because of the employee's status as a victim of sexual harassment. In addition, this measure would extend the time for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to file a retaliation claim with DLSE from six months to one year. It would extend the time for a victim of sexual harassment to file a retaliation claim with DLSE from six months to three years.
Time to File and Relationship to AB 2946: While this bill, AB 3081, extends the time to file a retaliation claim for a limited set of employees for limited forms of retaliation, AB 2946, which will also be heard today by this Committee, provides for a more general extension of the time to file a retaliation claim. AB 2946 would increase the time to file any retaliation claim with the DLSE from six months to three years. If AB 2946 becomes law and extends the time for filing all retaliation claims to three years, the provisions provided in AB 3081 would, effectively, be superseded. Although the bills do not amend the same section – and therefore will not require chaptering amendments – the authors may wish to reconcile their respective bills in order to eliminate any potential confusion as to which time frame would apply.
It would perhaps make greater sense for the author of this bill to similarly adopt the general increase in AB 2946. As noted in the discussion of the proposed Committee amendments below, this bill makes a seemingly arbitrary distinction. That is, it is unclear why an employee who is fired for his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment would have three years to file, while a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking would have only one year. The factors justify an extension of time for victims of sexual harassment – fear of retaliation, embarrassment, etc. – would seem to also be relevant for a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Notice, Training, and Submission Requirements: While the notice and training requirements added by this bill seem straightforward and sensible, it is not clear why the author has decided to place these additional requirements in the Labor Code. Government Code Section 12950, which is part of FEHA, already requires employers to provide notices with similar types of information, and Government Code Section 12950.1 requires employers with more than fifty employees to provide sexual harassment prevention training. If the author wishes to enhance these requirements and extend them to smaller employers, it would seem to make more sense to amend the already-existing framework in FEHA rather than create a separate but slightly different set of requirements in the Labor Code.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the author, "Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation."
Recommended Committee Amendments: The Committee recommends that the author take the following amendments in this Committee:
First, the provision protecting the employee from an adverse action based on the employee's status as a victim is triggered when the employee provides notice to the employer of the status or when the employer has actual knowledge of the status. However, the rebuttable presumption provided for in the provision is triggered if the employer takes an adverse action within 90 days after the employee "files a sexual harassment claim." If the employee obtains the protection upon giving the employer notice, or when the employer has actual knowledge, then that is what the rebuttable presumption should be tied to, not the filing of a claim. Otherwise, this bill would create a perverse incentive for the employer to fire the employee before the employee files a claim so as to avoid the rebuttable presumption. Therefore:
- On page 5, lines 4-15, change paragraph (2) as follows:
(2) A victim of sexual harassment, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status. There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation for purposes of this paragraph if an employer, within 90 days following the date that the victim provides notice to the employer or the employer has actual knowledge of the status, following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim, denies, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against the employee. for exercising the rights of the employee as set forth in this paragraph, for the employee’s cooperation in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this subdivision, or for the employee’s opposition to a policy, practice, or act prohibited by this paragraph.
Second, as noted in the analysis, this bill creates a seemingly arbitrary distinction that gives victims of sexual harassment three years to file a claim but only gives the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking one year to file a claim. Moreover, if AB 2946 becomes law, the time for filing all retaliation claims with DLSE will be three years. If both bills become law, there would be seemingly contradictory times to file in different sections of the Labor Code. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the author adopt the amendment below to give both categories three years to file or adopt the same approach as AB 2946 and work with the author of that measure to provide appropriate chaptering amendments. Therefore:
- On page 7 starting at line 32 combine paragraphs (2) and (3) as follows:
(2) Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (c), (e), or (f) within one year three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(3) Notwithstanding any time limitation in Section 98.7, an employee may file a complaint with the division based upon a violation of subdivision (e) as follows:
(i) With regard to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
(ii) With regard to sexual harassment, within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Thomas Clark / JUD. / (916) 319-2334
Date of Hearing: April 18, 2018
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
Tony Thurmond, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 3081 (
Author:Gonzalez Fletcher) – As Amended Ver:March 22, 2018
SUBJECT: Employment: sexual harassment
SUMMARY: Provides additional protections from discrimination and retaliation against an employee who is a victim of sexual harassment and, among other provisions, requires additional sexual harassment prevention training and the creation of a resource hotline for victims of sexual harassment. Specifically, this bill:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of sexual harassment.
- Establishes a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer takes specific actions within 90 days following the date an employee files a sexual harassment claim.
- Authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) for a violation of that prohibition within three years from the date of occurrence of the violation.
- Requires an employer, at the time of hiring and regularly on an annual basis thereafter, to provide to each employee a written notice that includes prescribed information about sexual harassment.
- Requires an employer with more than 25 employees to train all nonsupervisory employees at the time of hire, and at least once every two years thereafter, in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Requires sexual harassment prevention training to include specific components.
- Requires the Labor Commissioner (LC) to establish a 24-hour hotline to serve as an informational resource to workers regarding protections under the Labor Code for sexual harassment in the workplace, including, but not limited to, determining what constitutes sexual harassment or retaliation in the workplace and the administrative and legal procedures available to address these issues.
- Requires the LC to create the means for the submission of allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace both by transmission via mail or other carrier to a specified mailing address and electronic submission through an Internet Web site portal.
- Authorizes the LC to adopt regulations to implement the hotline and reporting provisions.
EXISTING LAW:
- Prohibits an employer from discharging or in any manner discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of the employee’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, if the victim provides notice to the employer of the status or the employer has actual knowledge of the status.
- Authorizes an employee to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for a violation of that prohibition within one year from the date of occurrence of the violation.
- Makes it a misdemeanor for an employer to refuse to rehire, promote, or restore an employee who has been determined to be so eligible by a grievance procedure or legal hearing.
- Makes specified employment practices unlawful under the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), including the harassment of an employee directly by the employer or indirectly by agents of the employer with the employer’s knowledge.
- Requires the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) to provide employers with a poster and information sheet regarding sexual harassment and requires employers to post the poster in an accessible area of the workplace and either distribute the information sheet to employees or provide equivalent information with prescribed components.
- FEHA authorizes the department to seek an order requiring the employer to comply with the poster and information requirements if an employer violates those requirements.
- Requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide at least two hours of prescribed training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees within six months of their assumption of a supervisory position and once every two years, as specified.
- Requires a client employer, as defined, to share with a labor contractor, as defined, all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for all workers supplied by that labor contractor for the payment of wages and the failure to obtain valid workers’ compensation coverage.
- Requires a client employer to share with a labor contractor all civil legal responsibility and civil liability for sexual harassment of, sexual discrimination against, or sexual assault of, a worker by the labor contractor or another worker.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: According to the author,“ Allegations of sexual harassment and assault brought against high-profile individuals in politics and the entertainment industry have sparked a nationwide conversation and movement centered around the experiences of those who have suffered from sexual harassment or sexual assault while on the job. However, many workers such as those working in agriculture, hospitality, retail, restaurant and other service industries have been overlooked in mainstream conversation.
Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Under current law, DFEH is the state agency charged with enforcing California’s civil rights laws. The mission of the DFEH is to protect the people of California from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations and from hate violence and human trafficking.
DFEH is responsible for enforcing the state laws, which make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee based on the following:
- Race, color
- Ancestry, national origin
- Religion, creed
- Age (over 40)
- Disability, mental and physical
- Sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions)
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Medical condition
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Military and veteran status
FEHA applies to public and private employers, labor organizations and employment agencies. It is illegal for employers of five or more employees to discriminate against job applicants and employees because of a protected category, or retaliate against them because they have asserted their rights under the law. The FEHA prohibits harassment based on a protected category against an employee, an applicant, an unpaid intern or volunteer, or a contractor. Harassment (including sexual harassment) is prohibited in all workplaces, even those with fewer than five employees.
Filing a FEHA Complaint
The first step in filing a complaint with DFEH is to fill out a form called an intake form. The submission of this form initiates an intake interview with a department representative to determine whether a formal complaint will be accepted for investigation. An intake form can be filed online, by phone or by mail. If the complainant would prefer not to use the DFEH Investigation process, they may instead file their own lawsuit for employment discrimination in court by obtaining a Right-to-Sue notice.
Existing Notice Requirements under FEHA
Under the provisions of the FEHA and implementing regulations, employers must provide employees with detailed written policies for preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Employers must also provide each new employee with DFEH’s pamphlet on sexual harassment (DFEH-185).
Additionally, employers must display the DFEH poster California Law Prohibits Workplace Discrimination and Harassment. The poster must be conspicuously displayed where it can be easily seen and read by employees and job applicants. The text has to be large and eligible enough to be easily read when posted. If 10% or more of the employees speak a language other than English, the poster must be provided in those languages.
Existing Sexual Harassment Training Requirements under FEHA
Under FEHA, Employers of 50 or more employees are required to provide sexual harassment training to supervisory employees, and DFEH accepts complaints when a person believes that an employer has not complied with these training and education requirements. Employers with at least 50 full-, part-time or temporary employees or independent contractors must provide two hours of sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees once every two years. The employer must train employees within six months of their taking a position as a supervisor.
Under current law, employers must provide sexual harassment prevention training in a classroom setting, through interactive E-learning, or through a live webinar. E-learning training must provide instructions on how to contact a trainer who can answer questions within two business days. Any training must explain:
- The definition of sexual harassment under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964;
- The statutes and case-law prohibiting and preventing sexual harassment;
- The types of conduct that can be sexual harassment;
- The remedies available for victims of sexual harassment;
- Strategies to prevent sexual harassment;
- Supervisors’ obligation to report harassment;
- Practical examples of harassment;
- The limited confidentiality of the complaint process;
- Resources for victims of sexual harassment, including to whom they should report it;
- How employers must correct harassing behavior;
- What to do if a supervisor is personally accused of harassment;
- The elements of an effective anti-harassment policy and how to use it;
- “Abusive conduct” under Government Code section 12950.1, subdivision (g)(2).
- Questions that assess learning, skill-building activities to assess understanding and application of content and hypothetical scenarios about harassment with discussion questions.
Last year these training requirements were expanded by SB 396 (Lara), Chapter 858, Statutes of 2017 to include harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
The LC’s office is also known as the DLSE. Its mission is to ensure a just day's pay in every workplace in the State and to promote economic justice through robust enforcement of labor laws. By combating wage theft, protecting workers from retaliation, and educating the public, DLSE puts earned wages into workers' pockets and helps level the playing field for law-abiding employers.
Recently, the DLSE has been mandated by the Legislature to develop sexual harassment training requirements for farm laborers and janitorial service employees. DLSE is also charged with ensuring compliance with these specific sexual harassment training requirements through the licensure process for those industries.
Sexual Harassment Prevention and Farm Labor Contractors
The LC’s office licenses farm labor contractors (FLC). Under the provisions of existing law, a FLC who engages in sexual harassment is prohibited from being issued a farm labor contractor’s license or renewing the license, as specified. Additionally, as part of the FLC licensing process the FLC must attests in writing that supervisorial employees have been trained at least once for at least two hours each calendar year in the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace, and that all new non-supervisorial employees, including agricultural employees, have been trained at the time of hire and at least once every two years thereafter in identifying, preventing, and reporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
Under these FLC licensing requirements, sexual harassment prevention training shall consist of training administered by a licensee or appropriate designee of the licensee and shall be in the language understood by the employee. The person may comply with this language requirement either by providing the training in that language or by having the training interpreted for the employee in the language that he or she understands.
Sexual harassment prevention training under these provisions shall include, at a minimum, components of the following as consistent with Section 12950 of the Government Code:
- The illegality of sexual harassment.
- The definition of sexual harassment under applicable state and federal law.
- A description of sexual harassment, utilizing examples.
- The internal complaint process of the employer available to the employee.
- The legal remedies and complaint process available through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
- Directions for how to contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
- The protection against retaliation provided under current law.
The trainer may use the text of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s pamphlet DFEH-185, “Sexual Harassment” as a guide to training, or may use other written material or other training resources covering the information required. As part of a FLC’s application for license renewal, in order to establish that training is occurring, a licensee shall provide the LC with a complete list of all materials or resources utilized to provide sexual harassment prevention training to the FLC’s agricultural employees in the calendar year prior to the month the renewal application is submitted.
At the conclusion of the training, the trainer shall provide the employee with a copy of the DFEH’s pamphlet on sexual harassment (DFEH-185), and a record of the training on a form provided by the Labor Commissioner that includes the name of the trainer and the date of the training. FLCs are required to keep a record with the names of all employees who have received sexual harassment training for a period of three years.
As part of a FLC’s application for license renewal, the FLC shall provide to the LC with the total number of agricultural employees trained in sexual harassment prevention in the calendar year prior to the month the renewal application is submitted and the LC shall annually aggregate the data provided under this subparagraph by FLC and publish on the Internet Web site of the LC the total number of agricultural employees trained in sexual harassment prevention in the previous calendar year.
Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention for Janitorial Service Employees
A 2016 law mandated the DLSE, with the assistance of an advisory committee, establish a biennial in-person sexual violence and harassment prevention training requirement for employees and employers in the janitorial service industry. In developing the training requirements, the advisory group was to consider the sexual harassment prevention training requirements mandated under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. The advisory committee was required to propose training standards by January 1, 2018.
Beginning July 1, 2018 and until the sexual violence and harassment prevention training requirement are approved, janitorial service employers must provide all covered workers a copy of the DFEH pamphlet on sexual harassment (DFEH-185). Beginning January 1, 2020, all new applications for registration and renewal of registration as a janitorial service employer must comply with the sexual violence and harassment prevention training requirements developed by DLSE.
Arguments in Support
The Service Employees International Union, California Domestic Workers Coalition and others argue, “Workers in low-wage jobs, three-quarters of whom are women, are especially vulnerable to harassment in the workplace. A large portion of these workers can be more susceptible to becoming targets of abuse due to their immigration status, isolated working conditions, financial hardship, and a lack of basic education of their rights and protections under the law. The number of complaints currently filed by workers does not come close to capturing how persistent this issue is. It is estimated that 60 percent of workers who have experienced sexual harassment in their workplace have not reported it. Many immigrant workers may not report these instances because they are not made aware of what constitutes harassment or assault, their right to file a complaint, who their direct supervisor is that they would notify to provide clarity to individuals hired by labor contractors, or other legal channels a worker can pursue in order to do address the problem. Low-wage workers may also fear retaliation for making a claim, and could be risking their job and ability to provide for their children and families when seeking to report sexual harassment.
The California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, who sponsored prior legislation related to sexual harassment prevention training obligation on farm labor contractors, writes in support that the measure, “not only closes important gaps in sexual harassment training obligations in the remainder of the agricultural industry by extending training obligations to larger growers, but also strengthens existing obligations on larger employers in other industries.”
The Teamsters and others write in support that the measure “will put in place a series of accountability measures which will hold employers responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment for their employees.”
Arguments in Opposition
The California Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) and other organizations write in opposition that this measure “would create another pathway of costly litigation against employers for issues that are already protected under the FEHA.” They argue that given existing sexual harassment protections and training requirements in the FEHA, placing these additional sexual harassment protections and training requirements in the Labor Code is “completely misplaced and unnecessary, leaving the employer in the position of having to decipher and comply with two potentially conflicting statutes.”
The Chamber and others argue that the measure “contradicts the current statute of limitations prescribed by FEHA for sexual harassment” which is one year from the most recent harassing or discriminatory event. They continue this measure “not only triples the statute of limitations for sexual harassment complaints, but also it provides the LC with jurisdiction over these complaints.” They assert jurisdiction over sexual harassment complaints should remain with DFEH in order to prevent confusion and contradictory regulations (including contradictory timelines for filing a complaint).
The Chamber and others assert this measure will unnecessarily expand employer liability. They argue, “FEHA already allows victims who prevail in a sexual harassment suit to obtain compensatory damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees. If sexual harassment protection is added to the Labor Code, employers are not only exposed to FEHA remedies, but also now lawsuits under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).” They continue, “PAGA allows an individual to pursue a “representative action” on behalf of similarly aggrieved employees without being subject to the strict filing requirements of a class action. If there are multiple Labor Code violations, penalties are stacked and very quickly add up. In addition, if the employee recovers any dollar amount, the employee is entitled to attorney’s fees, which adds another layer of cost onto the employer.”
The Chamber and others also argue that this measure creates an unfair rebuttable presumption against the employer, if the employer takes any corrective action within 90 days of an employee's complaint or opposition to an employer's practice or policy regarding sexual harassment. They claim, “Pursuant to this provision, if an employee who files a claim for sexual harassment is caught stealing the next day and immediately terminated, the employee will be protected under this automatic, rebuttable presumption. The burden will fall on the employer to prove its actions were valid, instead of the burden falling on the employee.”
The Chamber and others also write that they oppose the bill extending joint liability for sexual harassment, sexual discrimination or sexual assault to a business that contracts for janitorial services. They argue, “Current law already provides an adequate pathway for civil liability for a business that is actually controlling the employees of another and there is no basis for that analysis to be completely disregarded under this proposal.”
Prior and Related Legislation
SB 1343 (Mitchell) of 2018. Would require an employer who employs five or more employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to all employees by January 1, 2020, and once every two years after that, in addition to the development of a specified training video and posting requirements. Currently pending in the Senate.
SB 1300 (Jackson) of 2018. Would, among other provisions, provide guidance to the courts on the “severe or pervasive” legal standard for sexual harassment litigation. Would also prohibit non-disparagement clauses. Currently pending in the Senate.
AB 2366 (Bonta) of 2018. Would extend permitted time off protections for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking victims to victims of sexual harassment and to the immediate family members providing support to victims of sexual harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary.
AB 1870 (Reyes, Friedman, and Waldron) of 2018. Would extend the period to three years for which complaints alleging unlawful employment or housing practices may be filed with DFEH. Currently pending in the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.
SB 396 (Lara), Chapter 858, Statutes of 2017. Required, among other provisions, employers with 50 or more employees to include, as a component of the existing prescribed sexual harassment training and education for supervisors, training inclusive of harassment based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.
SB 295 (Monning), Chapter 424, Statutes of 2017. Made several additions to the law that governs obtaining and renewing a FLC license. Specifically, this bill requires: (1) that sexual harassment prevention training for each agricultural employee be given in the language understood by that employee; (2) that, as part of their license renewal application, FLCs provide the Labor Commissioner (LC) with a complete list of all materials or resources used to provide sexual harassment prevention training to their employees in the prior year; (3) that, as part of their license renewal application, FLCs also include the total number of agricultural employees trained in sexual harassment prevention in the prior year; and (4) that the LC add up the number of sexual harassment prevention trainees annually and post the total on its Web site. This bill also authorizes the LC to assess a civil penalty of $100 for each violation of certain sexual harassment prevention training requirements.
AB 569 (Gonzalez Fletcher) of 2017. Would have prohibited an employer, or any person acting on behalf of an employer, from taking any adverse action against an employee or their dependent or family member for their reproductive health decisions, including, but not limited to, the timing thereof, or the use of any drug, device, or medical service. The measure was vetoed by Governor Brown.
Governor’s Veto Message:
Assembly Bill 569 would add to the labor code a prohibition against any employer from taking an action against an employee because of that employee's reproductive decision. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act has long banned such adverse actions, except for religious institutions. I believe these types of claims should remain within the jurisdiction of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. For this reason, I am returning AB 569 without my signature.
AB 2337 (Burke), Chapter 355, Statutes of 2016. Provided that an employer shall inform each employee of his or her rights established under current law protecting employees affected by domestic violence, by providing that information in writing to new employees upon hire and to other employees upon request. This bill requires the Labor Commissioner to develop a form that an employer may use to satisfy this notice requirement, as specified.
AB 1978 (Gonzalez Fletcher), Chapter 373, Statutes of 2016. Required a mandated development of biennial, in-person sexual harassment training for all employees working in the janitorial sector.
SB 1087 (Monning), Chapter 750, Statutes of 2014. Strengthened the FLC standards by, among other things, increasing bonding requirements and raising licensure fees for licensure enforcement, as specified; and prohibited the FLC who engages in sexual harassment from being issued a FLC license or renewing the license, as specified.
SB 400 (Jackson), Chapter 759, Statutes of 2013. Expanded the protections given to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking who take time off to obtain relief, support, or care. This bill also prohibited an employer from discharging, retaliating or discriminating against an employee because of their status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and required employers to provide reasonable accommodations for such employees.
AB 1825 (Reyes), Chapter 933, Statutes of 2004. Mandated all employers with 50 or more employees conduct two hours of sexual harassment prevention training for all supervisory employees.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
CA Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union
CA Conference of Machinists
California Domestic Workers Coalition
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council
Engineers and Scientists of CA, Local 20
International Longshore & Warehouse Union
Jockeys' Guild
Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 21
SAG-AFTRA
SEIU California
UNITE-HERE
Utility Workers of America
Women's Foundation of California
Opposition
Associated General Contractors
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Ambulance Association
California Apartment Association
California Association for Health Services at Home
California Association of Joint Powers Authorities
California Association of Winegrape Growers
California Beer and Beverage Distributors
California Chamber of Commerce
California Grocers Association
California Hotel and Lodging Association
California League of Food Producers
California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California Restaurant Association
California Retailers Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
National Federation of Independent Business
North Orange County Chamber
Official Police Garages of Los Angeles
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Analysis Prepared by: Jennifer Richard / L. & E. /
Discussed in Hearing
Assembly Floor
Senate Floor
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations
Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Assembly Floor
Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary
Assembly Standing Committee on Labor and Employment
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):