E-Verify, Military Leave and Equal Pay: California Handbook Statements Updated

Author: Melissa Gonzalez Boyce, XpertHR Legal Editor

XpertHR has updated the following handbook statements in the California Handbook as a result of various legal developments effective January 1, 2016:

• The Employment Eligibility and Work Authorization Handbook Statement: California has been updated to reflect the expansion of the definition of unlawful employment practice to include an employer using E-Verify in a manner not required by federal law.
• The Disability Accommodation Handbook Statement: California and the Religious Accommodation Handbook Statement: California have been updated to reflect the expansion of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act to prohibit retaliation or discrimination against a person for requesting an accommodation for his or her disability or religion, regardless of whether the accommodation request is granted.

• The School and Child Care Activities Leave Handbook Statement: California has been updated to reflect the expansion of authorized reasons for which an employee may take job-protected leave without the fear of discrimination or termination under the Family School Partnership Act. The handbook statement also now aligns certain definitions in California's kin care law with the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014.
• The Reporting and Anti-Retaliation Handbook Statement: California has been updated to reflect the extension of retaliation protections to include family members of an individual engaging in a legally protected activity.
• The Discussion of Wages Handbook Statement: California has been updated as a result of amendments to the California Equal Pay Act.
• The Military Leave Handbook Statement: California has been updated to expand the military leave protections to National Guard members of any state who are called to military service by the governor of the state in which they serve or by the President of the United States.

California employers and employers with employees in California should update their employee handbooks accordingly.