As we previously reported, California's new Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 will require most California employers to provide paid sick leave to employees beginning July 1, 2015.  

            However, certain obligation take effect on January 1, 2015.  Beginning January 1, 2015, employers will be required to post a notice regarding the new paid sick leave law. The Labor Commissioner has created a template poster, which employers may use for that purpose.  Employers may elect to prepare their own posters, especially if the employer is providing a more generous policy than the law requires or providing a lump sum amount of leave, rather than using the accrual method. In such a case, the notice must contain the requirements of the new paid sick leave law, but should also accurately describe the employer's own policy. Regardless of whether the template or a custom posting is utilized, all employers must post such notice in a conspicuous place in each workplace by January 1, 2015.

            Additionally, the Labor Commissioner modified the Wage Theft Notice which employers are required to provide to non-exempt employees upon hire.  Employers are required to begin using the updated Notice effective January 1, 2015. Employers are not required to use the template Notice and may use their own version, so long as the notice includes all the information contained in the template notice.