California Workplace & Employment Law Blog

2021 brings a slew of new employment laws, which will affect nearly every California employer, regardless of size or industry. Below is a roundup of the main legal changes that will impact most employers. Some of these laws took effect immediately upon the governor’s signing on September 30th, and most others will go into effect on January 1, 2021. Given the expansive scope of these laws, employers should have their policies and procedures updated and in place ready to go by January 1, 2021.

On March 18, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA consists of several different parts, including the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA). The FFCRA is designed to help employees by providing paid sick and family leave for reasons related to COVID-19, that will be dollar-for-dollar reimbursed by the federal government through a refundable tax credit to employers.

2020 brings a slew of new employment laws, some of which make significant changes to existing law, and others which make minor updates but which nonetheless require employers’ attention. Below is a roundup of the main legal changes and key takeaways.