text:
(a) If a final judgment arising from nonpayment of wages for work performed in this state remains unsatisfied after a period of 180 days after the time to appeal therefrom has expired and no appeal therefrom is pending, the judgment debtor shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed three times the outstanding judgment amount, including postjudgment interest then due, provided that a judgment debtor shall not be subject to a penalty under this subdivision if the judgment debtor reaches an accord described in subdivision (b) of Section 238 before the 180th day and then remains in full compliance with the accord until its full satisfaction. The court may assess this penalty in any action brought to enforce the judgment or to otherwise induce compliance by or impose lawful consequences on a judgment debtor.

(b) In any action brought to enforce the judgment or to otherwise induce compliance by or impose lawful consequences on a judgment debtor, the court shall assess against the judgment debtor the entire amount of the requested penalty except to the extent that the court finds that the judgment debtor has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence good cause to reduce the amount of the penalty.

(c) Penalties assessed by a court pursuant to this section shall be distributed as follows:

(1) Fifty percent to the employee or employees in whose favor the judgment was rendered, shared proportionally according to the amount due to each employee in the judgment entered in superior court.

(2) Fifty percent to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for enforcement of labor laws, including the administration of this part, and for education of employers and employees about their rights and responsibilities under this code, upon appropriation, to supplement and not supplant the funding to the division for those purposes.

(d) A successor to a judgment debtor, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 200.3 or by any other law, shall be jointly and severally liable for penalties assessed pursuant to this section.

(e) Penalties assessed pursuant to this section shall be in addition to any other penalties or fines permitted by law.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 747, Sec. 3. (SB 261) Effective January 1, 2026.)

article: 1. General Occupations


kind: section

code: LAB

text:
(a) (1) Any individual, business entity, or public entity, regardless of its form, that, as part of its business, contracts for services in the property services or long-term care industries shall be jointly and severally liable for any unpaid wages, including interest, where the individual, business entity, or public entity has been provided notice, by any party, of any proceeding or investigation by the Labor Commissioner in which the employer is found liable for those unpaid wages, to the extent the amounts are for services performed under that contract.

(2) The issue of joint and several liability under this section shall be determined (A) in a proceeding under Section 98 if the contracting individual, business entity, or public entity is provided notice in the administrative complaint alleging such liability and named a defendant in the course of the Section 98 proceeding, (B) in an administrative proceeding brought by the Labor Commissioner to investigate, prosecute, or recover unpaid wages and interest pursuant to a citation, or in a court action brought by the Labor Commissioner, if the contracting individual, business entity, or public entity is provided preliminary notice by the Labor Commissioner of joint and several liability under this section at least 30 days prior to issuance of a citation, or filing of a court action, or (C) by a court in an action pursuant to Section 98.2. No action for a violation or enforcement of this section shall be brought under Part 13 (commencing with Section 2698) of Division 2.

(b) The joint and several liability provided by this section shall not apply to unpaid wages owed to employees covered by a bona fide collective bargaining agreement, if the agreement expressly provides for wages, hours of work, working conditions, a process to resolve disputes concerning nonpayment of wages, and a waiver of the joint and several liability provided by this section.

(c) An employer that contracts to provide services in the property services or long-term care industries shall, before entering into such a contract, provide written notice to the other party to the prospective contract of any unsatisfied final judgments against the employer for nonpayment of wages. The notice shall also provide the text of this section. The failure of the employer to provide notice under this subdivision shall not be a defense to the joint and several liability provided by this section.

(d) An employer that contracts to provide services in the property services or long-term care industries shall provide, within 30 days of the entry of the judgment, written notice of any unsatisfied final judgments against the employer for nonpayment of wages to any parties with which the employer is presently under contract to provide services in the property services or long-term care industries. The failure of the employer to provide notice under this subdivision shall not be a defense to the joint and several liability provided by this section.

(e) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Property services” means janitorial, security guard, valet parking, landscaping, and gardening services.

(2) “Long-term care” has the same definition as in Section 238.4.

(3) “Public entity” means a city, county, city and county, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state, but does not include the state.

(f) This section shall not be interpreted to impose joint liability on an individual or the owner of a home-based business, for any property services, to the extent that the property services are provided at the individual or home-based business owner’s primary residence, provided that the primary residence does not have multiple housing units.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 656, Sec. 1. (AB 520) Effective January 1, 2024.)

chapter: 1. Payment of Wages

article: 1. General Occupations

path: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION > 1. Payment of Wages > 1. General Occupations


text: The court shall award a prevailing plaintiff all reasonable attorney’s fees and costs in any action brought by a judgment creditor, the Labor Commissioner, or a public prosecutor, as defined in Section 180, to enforce a final judgment arising from the nonpayment of wages, penalties, or other amounts owed arising from work performed in this state, or to otherwise induce compliance by or impose lawful consequences on a judgment debtor for nonsatisfaction of a final judgment arising from the nonpayment of wages, penalties, or other amounts owed arising from work performed in this state.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 747, Sec. 4. (SB 261) Effective January 1, 2026.)

division: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

article: 1. General Occupations


citation: LAB § 240

text:
(a) If any employer has been convicted of a violation of any provision of this article, or if any judgment against an employer for nonpayment of wages remains unsatisfied for a period of 10 days after the time to appeal therefrom has expired, and no appeal therefrom is then pending, the Labor Commissioner may require the employer to deposit a bond in such sum as the Labor Commissioner may deem sufficient and adequate in the circumstances, to be approved by the Labor Commissioner. The bond shall be payable to the Labor Commissioner and shall be conditioned that the employer shall, for a definite future period, not exceeding two years, pay the employees in accordance with the provisions of this article, and shall be further conditioned upon the payment by the employer of any judgment which may be recovered against the employer pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(b) If an order to post a bond issued against an employer under this section remains unsatisfied for a period of 10 days after the time to appeal therefrom has expired, and no appeal from the order is then pending, the Labor Commissioner may require the employer to provide an accounting of assets of the employer, including a list of all bank accounts, accounts receivable, personal property, real property, automobiles or other vehicles, and any other assets, in a form and manner as prescribed by the Labor Commissioner. An employer shall provide an amended accounting of assets, if ordered by the Labor Commissioner to do so. If, within 10 days after a demand for an accounting of assets, made by certified or registered mail, the employer fails to provide an accounting, or if the employer fails to provide an amended accounting after receiving a demand by the Labor Commissioner to do so, the Labor Commissioner may bring an action in the name and on behalf of the people of the State of California against such employer to compel the employer to furnish the accounting. An employer who fails to provide an accounting as required by this subdivision shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(c) If, within 10 days after demand for the bond, which demand may be made by mail, the employer fails to deposit the bond, the Labor Commissioner may bring an action in the name and on behalf of the people of the State of California against the employer in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the employer to furnish the bond or to cease doing business until the employer has done so. The employer has the burden of proving either that the bond is unnecessary or that the amount demanded is excessive. If the court finds that there is just cause for requiring the bond, and that the bond is reasonably necessary or proper to secure prompt payment of the wages of the employees of the employer and the employer’s compliance with the provisions of this article, the court may enjoin the employer, whether an individual, partnership, corporation, company, trust, or association, and such other person or persons as may have been or may be concerned with or in any way participating in the failure to pay the wages resulting in the conviction or in the judgment, from doing business until the requirement is met, and make other and further orders appropriate to compel compliance with the requirement.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 655, Sec. 5. (AB 469) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 1. General Occupations


citation: LAB § 243

text:
(a) If, within 10 years of either a conviction for a violation of this article or failing to satisfy a judgment for nonpayment of wages, or of both, it is alleged that an employer on a second occasion has been convicted of again violating this article or is failing to satisfy a judgment for nonpayment of wages, an employee or the employee’s legal representative, an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, may, on behalf of himself or herself and others, bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order prohibiting the employer from doing business in this state unless the employer deposits with the court a bond to secure compliance by the employer with this article or to satisfy the judgment for nonpayment of wages.

(b) Upon the filing of an affidavit that, to the satisfaction of the court, shows reasonable proof that an employer, for the second time within 10 years, has been convicted of violating this article or has failed to satisfy a judgment for the nonpayment of wages, or both, the court may grant an order that prohibits the employer within 30 days from conducting any business within the state unless the employer deposits a bond payable to the Labor Commissioner, with the condition that the employer make wage payments in accordance with this article, or that the employer pay any unsatisfied judgment for nonpayment of wages, or both. The court shall order that the bond be on deposit with the Labor Commissioner at all times within a five-year period from the date of the order, that the employer employs more than 10 employees. The court shall order that the bond be in an amount equal to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or 25 percent of the weekly gross payroll of the employer at the time of the posting of the bond, whichever is greater, and that the term of the bond be for the duration of the service of the employee who brought the action, until past due wages have been paid, or until satisfaction of all judgments for nonpayment of wages. The bond shall also be payable for wages, interest on wages and for any damages arising from any violation of orders of the Industrial Welfare Commission, and for any other monetary relief awarded to an employee as a result of a violation of this code. To aid in the enforcement of this section, upon a request by the Labor Commissioner or an employee bringing an action pursuant to this section, the court may additionally require the employer to provide an accounting of assets of the employer, including a list of all bank accounts, accounts receivable, personal property, real property, automobiles or other vehicles, and any other assets, in a form and manner as prescribed by the court. An employer shall provide an amended accounting of assets if ordered by the court to do so. If, within 10 days after a demand for an accounting of assets, which demand may be made by certified or registered mail, the employer shall fail to provide an accounting, or if the employer fails to provide an amended accounting being ordered to do so, the court may take all appropriate action to enforce its order, including the imposition of appropriate sanctions.

(c) For purposes of subdivision (b), an employer shall be deemed to have been convicted of having violated this article or to have failed to satisfy a judgment for the second time within 10 years if, to secure labor or personal services in connection with his or her business, the employer uses the services of an agent, contractor, or subcontractor who is convicted of a violation of this article or fails to satisfy a judgment for wages respecting those employees, or both, but only if the employer had actual knowledge of the person’s failure to pay wages. In issuing a temporary restraining order pursuant to this section, the court, in determining the amount and term of the bond, shall count the agent’s, contractor’s, or subcontractor’s employees as part of the employer’s total workforce. This subdivision shall not apply where a temporary restraining order against the agent, contractor, or subcontractor as an employer has been issued pursuant to subdivision (b).

(d) An employer who, for the third time within 10 years of the first occurrence, is alleged to have violated this article or to have failed to satisfy a judgment for nonpayment of wages, or both, shall be deemed by the court to have commenced a new five-year period for which the posting of a bond may be ordered in accordance with subdivision (b), except that the court may, in its discretion, require the posting of a bond in a greater amount as it determines appropriate under the circumstances.

(e) A former employee who was a party to an earlier action against an employer in which a judgment for the payment of wages was obtained, and who alleges that the employer has failed to satisfy the judgment for the payment of wages, in addition to any other available remedy, may petition the court pursuant to subdivision (b) for a temporary restraining order against the employer to cease doing business in this state unless the employer posts a bond with the court.

(f) Actions brought pursuant to this section shall be set for trial at the earliest possible date, and shall take precedence over all other cases, except older matters of the same character and matters to which special precedence may be given by law.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose any mandatory duties on the Labor Commissioner.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 655, Sec. 6. (AB 469) Effective January 1, 2012.)

article: 1. General Occupations


citation: LAB § 244

text:
(a) An individual is not required to exhaust administrative remedies or procedures in order to bring a civil action under any provision of this code, unless that section under which the action is brought expressly requires exhaustion of an administrative remedy. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the requirements of Section 2699.3.

(b) Reporting or threatening to report an employee’s, former employee’s, or prospective employee’s suspected citizenship or immigration status, or the suspected citizenship or immigration status of a family member of the employee, former employee, or prospective employee, to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee, former employee, or prospective employee exercises a right under the provisions of this code, the Government Code, or the Civil Code constitutes an adverse action for purposes of establishing a violation of an employee’s, former employee’s, or prospective employee’s rights. As used in this subdivision, “family member” means a spouse, parent, sibling, child, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, cousin, grandparent, or grandchild related by blood, adoption, marriage, or domestic partnership.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 577, Sec. 4. (SB 666) Effective January 1, 2014.)

article: 1. General Occupations


citation: LAB § 245

text:
(a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014.

(b) The provisions of this article are in addition to and independent of any other rights, remedies, or procedures available under any other law and do not diminish, alter, or negate any other legal rights, remedies, or procedures available to an aggrieved person.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2014, Ch. 317, Sec. 3. (AB 1522) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days

path: 2. EMPLOYMENT REGULATION AND SUPERVISION > 1. Payment of Wages > 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
As used in this article:

(a) “Employee” does not include the following:

(1) Except as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 246.5, an employee covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement if the agreement expressly provides for the wages, hours of work, and working conditions of employees, and expressly provides for paid sick days or a paid leave or paid time off policy that permits the use of sick days for those employees, final and binding arbitration of disputes concerning the application of its paid sick days provisions, premium wage rates for all overtime hours worked, and regular hourly rate of pay of not less than 30 percent more than the state minimum wage rate.

(2) An employee in the construction industry covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement if the agreement expressly provides for the wages, hours of work, and working conditions of employees, premium wage rates for all overtime hours worked, and regular hourly pay of not less than 30 percent more than the state minimum wage rate, and the agreement either (A) was entered into before January 1, 2015, or (B) expressly waives the requirements of this article in clear and unambiguous terms. For purposes of this subparagraph, “employee in the construction industry” means an employee performing work associated with construction, including work involving alteration, demolition, building, excavation, renovation, remodeling, maintenance, improvement, repair work, and any other work as described by Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, and other similar or related occupations or trades.

(3) An individual employed by an air carrier as a flight deck or cabin crew member that is subject to Title II of the federal Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. Sec. 151 et seq.), provided that the individual is provided with compensated time off equal to or exceeding the amount established in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 246.

(4) An employee of the state, city, county, city and county, district, or any other public entity who is a recipient of a retirement allowance and employed without reinstatement into the employee’s respective retirement system pursuant to either Article 8 (commencing with Section 21220) of Chapter 12 of Part 3 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, or Article 8 (commencing with Section 31670) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 of the Government Code.

(5) An employee as defined in Section 351(d) of Title 45 of the United States Code.

(b) (1) “Employer” means any person employing another under any appointment or contract of hire and includes the state, political subdivisions of the state, and municipalities.

(2) “Employer” does not include any employer described in Section 351(a) of Title 45 of the United States Code.

(c) “Family member” means any of the following:

(1) A child, which for purposes of this article means 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.

(2) A biological, adoptive, or foster parent, stepparent, or legal guardian of an employee or the employee’s spouse or registered domestic partner, or a person who stood in loco parentis when the employee was a minor child.

(3) A spouse.

(4) A registered domestic partner.

(5) A grandparent.

(6) A grandchild.

(7) A sibling.

(8) A designated person, which, for purposes of this article, means a person identified by the employee at the time the employee requests paid sick days. An employer may limit an employee to one designated person per 12-month period for paid sick days.

(d) “Health care provider” has the same meaning as defined in Section 12945.2 of the Government Code.

(e) “Paid sick days” means time that is compensated at the same wage as the employee normally earns during regular work hours and is provided by an employer to an employee for the purposes described in Section 246.5.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 309, Sec. 1. (SB 616) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


citation: LAB § 246

text:
(a) (1) An employee who, on or after July 1, 2015, works in California for the same employer for 30 or more days within a year from the commencement of employment is entitled to paid sick days as specified in this section. For an individual provider of waiver personal care services under Section 14132.97 of the Welfare and Institutions Code who also provides in-home supportive services in an applicable month, eligibility shall be determined based on the aggregate number of monthly hours worked between in-home supportive services and waiver personal care services pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 14132.971.

(2) On and after July 1, 2018, a provider of in-home supportive services under Section 14132.95, 14132.952, or 14132.956 of, or Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, who works in California for 30 or more days within a year from the commencement of employment is entitled to paid sick days as specified in subdivision (e) and subject to the rate of accrual in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). For an individual provider of waiver personal care services under Section 14132.97 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, entitlement to paid sick days begins on July 1, 2019.

(b) (1) An employee shall accrue paid sick days at the rate of not less than one hour per every 30 hours worked, beginning at the commencement of employment or the operative date of this article, whichever is later, subject to the use and accrual limitations set forth in this section.

(2) An employee who is exempt from overtime requirements as an administrative, executive, or professional employee under a wage order of the Industrial Welfare Commission is deemed to work 40 hours per workweek for the purposes of this section, unless the employee’s normal workweek is less than 40 hours, in which case the employee shall accrue paid sick days based upon that normal workweek.

(3) An employer may use a different accrual method, other than providing one hour per every 30 hours worked, provided that the accrual is on a regular basis so that an employee has no less than 24 hours of accrued sick leave or paid time off by the 120th calendar day of employment or each calendar year, or in each 12-month period, and no less than 40 hours of accrued sick leave or paid time off by the 200th calendar day of employment or each calendar year, or in each 12-month period.

(4) An employer may satisfy the accrual requirements of this section by providing not less than 24 hours or 3 days of paid sick leave that is available to the employee to use by the completion of the employee’s 120th calendar day of employment, and no less than 40 hours or 5 days of paid sick leave that is available to the employee to use by the completion of the employee’s 200th calendar day of employment.

(c) An employee shall be entitled to use accrued paid sick days beginning on the 90th day of employment, after which day the employee may use paid sick days as they are accrued.

(d) Accrued paid sick days shall carry over to the following year of employment. However, an employer may limit an employee’s use of accrued paid sick days to 40 hours or five days in each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period. This section shall be satisfied and no accrual or carryover is required if the full amount of leave is received at the beginning of each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period. The term “full amount of leave” means five days or 40 hours.

(e) For a provider of in-home supportive services under Section 14132.95, 14132.952, or 14132.956 of, or Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of, and an individual provider of waiver personal care services under Section 14132.97 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, the term “full amount of leave” is defined as follows:

(1) Eight hours or one day in each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period beginning July 1, 2018.

(2) Sixteen hours or two days in each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period beginning when the minimum wage, as set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1182.12 and accounting for any years postponed under subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 1182.12, has reached thirteen dollars ($13) per hour.

(3) Twenty-four hours or three days in each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period beginning when the minimum wage, as set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 1182.12 and accounting for any years postponed under subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 1182.12, has reached fifteen dollars ($15) per hour.

(4) Forty hours or five days in each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period beginning January 1, 2024.

(f) An employer is not required to provide additional paid sick days pursuant to this section if the employer has a paid leave policy or paid time off policy, the employer makes available an amount of leave applicable to employees that may be used for the same purposes and under the same conditions as specified in this section, and the policy satisfies one of the following:

(1) Satisfies the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of this section.

(2) Provided paid sick leave or paid time off to a class of employees before January 1, 2015, pursuant to a sick leave policy or paid time off policy that used an accrual method different than providing one hour per 30 hours worked, provided that the accrual is on a regular basis so that an employee, including an employee hired into that class after January 1, 2015, has no less than one day or eight hours of accrued sick leave or paid time off within three months of employment of each calendar year, or each 12-month period, and the employee was eligible to earn at least five days or 40 hours of sick leave or paid time off within six months of employment. If an employer modifies the accrual method used in the policy it had in place prior to January 1, 2015, the employer shall comply with any accrual method set forth in subdivision (b) or provide the full amount of leave at the beginning of each year of employment, calendar year, or 12-month period. This section does not prohibit the employer from increasing the accrual amount or rate for a class of employees covered by this subdivision.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law, sick leave benefits provided pursuant to the provisions of Sections 19859 to 19868.3, inclusive, of the Government Code, or annual leave benefits provided pursuant to the provisions of Sections 19858.3 to 19858.7, inclusive, of the Government Code, or by provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5 that incorporate or supersede provisions of Section 19859 to 19868.3, inclusive, or Sections 19858.3 to 19858.7, inclusive, of the Government Code, meet the requirements of this section.

(g) (1) Except as specified in paragraph (2), an employer is not required to provide compensation to an employee for accrued, unused paid sick days upon termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment.

(2) If an employee separates from an employer and is rehired by the employer within one year from the date of separation, previously accrued and unused paid sick days shall be reinstated. The employee shall be entitled to use those previously accrued and unused paid sick days and to accrue additional paid sick days upon rehiring, subject to the use and accrual limitations set forth in this section. An employer is not required to reinstate accrued paid time off to an employee that was paid out at the time of termination, resignation, or separation of employment.

(h) An employer may lend paid sick days to an employee in advance of accrual, at the employer’s discretion and with proper documentation.

(i) An employer shall provide an employee with written notice that sets forth the amount of paid sick leave available, or paid time off leave an employer provides in lieu of sick leave, for use on either the employee’s itemized wage statement described in Section 226 or in a separate writing provided on the designated pay date with the employee’s payment of wages. If an employer provides unlimited paid sick leave or unlimited paid time off to an employee, the employer may satisfy this section by indicating on the notice or the employee’s itemized wage statement “unlimited.” The penalties described in this article for a violation of this subdivision shall be in lieu of the penalties for a violation of Section 226. This subdivision shall apply to employers covered by Wage Order 11 or 12 of the Industrial Welfare Commission only on and after January 21, 2016.

(j) An employer has no obligation under this section to allow an employee’s total accrual of paid sick leave to exceed 80 hours or 10 days, provided that an employee’s rights to accrue and use paid sick leave are not limited other than as allowed under this section.

(k) An employee may determine how much paid sick leave they need to use, provided that an employer may set a reasonable minimum increment, not to exceed two hours, for the use of paid sick leave.

(l) For the purposes of this section, an employer shall calculate paid sick leave using any of the following calculations:

(1) Paid sick time for nonexempt employees shall be calculated in the same manner as the regular rate of pay for the workweek in which the employee uses paid sick time, whether or not the employee actually works overtime in that workweek.

(2) Paid sick time for nonexempt employees shall be calculated by dividing the employee’s total wages, not including overtime premium pay, by the employee’s total hours worked in the full pay periods of the prior 90 days of employment.

(3) Paid sick time for exempt employees shall be calculated in the same manner as the employer calculates wages for other forms of paid leave time.

(m) If the need for paid sick leave is foreseeable, the employee shall provide reasonable advance notification. If the need for paid sick leave is unforeseeable, the employee shall provide notice of the need for the leave as soon as practicable.

(n) An employer shall provide payment for sick leave taken by an employee no later than the payday for the next regular payroll period after the sick leave was taken.

(o) The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with stakeholders, shall convene a workgroup to implement paid sick leave for in-home supportive services providers as specified in this section. This workgroup shall finish its implementation work by November 1, 2017, and the State Department of Social Services shall issue guidance such as an all-county letter or similar instructions by December 1, 2017.

(p) No later than February 1, 2019, the State Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Department of Finance and stakeholders, shall reconvene the paid sick leave workgroup for in-home supportive services providers. The workgroup shall discuss how paid sick leave affects the provision of in-home supportive services. The workgroup shall consider the potential need for a process to cover an in-home supportive services recipient’s authorized hours when a provider needs to utilize their sick time. This workgroup shall finish its work by November 1, 2019.

(q) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of an all-county letter, or similar instructions, without taking any regulatory action.

(r) Subdivisions (g), (h), (i), (l), (m), and (n) shall preempt any local ordinance to the contrary.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 309, Sec. 2. (SB 616) Effective January 1, 2024.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) Upon the oral or written request of an employee, an employer shall provide paid sick days for the following purposes:

(1) Diagnosis, care, or treatment of an existing health condition of, or preventive care for, an employee or an employee’s family member.

(2) (A) For leave taken or requested on or before December 31, 2024, for a purpose described in subdivision (c) of Section 230 or subdivision (a) of Section 230.1.

(B) For leave taken or requested on or after January 1, 2025, for a purpose described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision (a) of, or subdivision (b) of, Section 12945.8 of the Government Code.

(C) For leave taken or requested on or after January 1, 2026, for a purpose described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 12945.8 of the Government Code.

(3) (A) For an employee who is an agricultural employee, as defined in Section 9110, who works outside and who is entitled to paid sick days under this article, to avoid smoke, heat, or flooding conditions created by a local or state emergency, including, but not limited to, when the employee’s worksite is closed due to the smoke, heat, or flooding conditions.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, there are smoke, heat, or flood conditions created by a local or state emergency if the Governor proclaims a state of emergency pursuant to Section 8625 of the Government Code, or a local emergency is proclaimed pursuant to Section 8630 of the Government Code, due to smoke, heat, or flooding conditions that prevent agricultural employees from working.

(b) An employer shall not require as a condition of using paid sick days that the employee search for or find a replacement worker to cover the days during which the employee uses paid sick days.

(c) (1) An employer shall not deny an employee the right to use accrued sick days, discharge, threaten to discharge, demote, suspend, or in any manner discriminate against an employee for using accrued sick days, attempting to exercise the right to use accrued sick days, filing a complaint with the department or alleging a violation of this article, cooperating in an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this article, or opposing any policy or practice or act that is prohibited by this article.

(2) There shall be a rebuttable presumption of unlawful retaliation if an employer denies an employee the right to use accrued sick days, discharges, threatens to discharge, demotes, suspends, or in any manner discriminates against an employee within 30 days of any of the following:

(A) The filing of a complaint by the employee with the Labor Commissioner or alleging a violation of this article.

(B) The cooperation of an employee with an investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this article.

(C) Opposition by the employee to a policy, practice, or act that is prohibited by this article.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 245.5, for purposes of this section, “employee” shall include an employee described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 245.5.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 148, Sec. 6. (AB 406) Effective October 1, 2025.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


citation: LAB § 247

text:
(a) In each workplace of the employer, the employer shall display a poster in a conspicuous place containing all the information specified in subdivision (b). The Labor Commissioner shall create a poster containing this information and make it available to employers.

(b) The poster shall state all of the following:

(1) An employee is entitled to accrue, request, and use paid sick days.

(2) The amount of sick days provided for by this article.

(3) The terms of use of paid sick days.

(4) That retaliation or discrimination against an employee who requests paid sick days or uses paid sick days, or both, is prohibited and that an employee has the right under this article to file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner against an employer who retaliates or discriminates against the employee.

(c) An employer who willfully violates the posting requirements of this section is subject to a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) per each offense.

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) An employer shall keep for at least three years records documenting the hours worked and paid sick days accrued and used by an employee, and shall allow the Labor Commissioner to access these records pursuant to the requirements set forth in Section 1174. An employer shall make these records available to an employee in the same manner as described in Section 226. If an employer does not maintain adequate records pursuant to this section, it shall be presumed that the employee is entitled to the maximum number of hours accruable under this article, unless the employer can show otherwise by clear and convincing evidence.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, an employer is not obligated to inquire into or record the purposes for which an employee uses paid leave or paid time off.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 67, Sec. 3. (AB 304) Effective July 13, 2015.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


citation: LAB § 248

text:
(a) As used in this section:

(1) “COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave” means supplemental paid sick leave provided pursuant to this section.

(2) “Food sector worker” means any person who satisfies all of the following criteria:

(A) The person satisfies one or more of the following criteria:

(i) The person works in an industry or occupation defined in paragraph (B) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 3-2001, paragraph (H) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 8-2001, paragraph (H) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 13-2001, or paragraph (D) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 14-2001.

(ii) The person works for a hiring entity that operates a food facility, as defined in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code.

(iii) The person delivers food from a food facility, as defined in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code, for or through a hiring entity.

(B) The person leaves the person’s home or other place of residence to perform work for or through the person’s hiring entity.

(3) “Hiring entity” means a private sole proprietorship or any kind of private entity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any kind of corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other kind of business enterprise, and specifically including, but not limited to, any delivery network company, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6041.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and any transportation network company, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 5431 of the Public Utilities Code, that has 500 or more employees in the United States. For purposes of this paragraph, Section 826.40(a)(1) and (2) of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall be used to determine the number of employees that the hiring entity employs.

(4) “IWC Wage Order” means a wage order of the Industrial Welfare Commission.

(b) A food sector worker shall be entitled to COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(1) A hiring entity shall provide COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to each food sector worker who performs work for or through the hiring entity if that food sector worker is unable to work due to any of the following reasons:

(A) The food sector worker is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.

(B) The food sector worker is advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine or self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19.

(C) The food sector worker is prohibited from working by the food sector worker’s hiring entity due to health concerns related to the potential transmission of COVID-19.

(2) A food sector worker shall be entitled to the following number of hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave:

(A) A food sector worker is entitled to 80 hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave, if the food sector worker satisfies either of the following criteria:

(i) The hiring entity considers the food sector worker to work “full time.”

(ii) The food sector worker worked or was scheduled to work, on average, at least 40 hours per week for the hiring entity in the two weeks preceding the date the food sector worker took COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave.

(B) A food sector worker who does not satisfy either of the criteria in subparagraph (A) is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(i) If the food sector worker has a normal weekly schedule, the total number of hours the food sector worker is normally scheduled to work for or through a hiring entity over two weeks.

(ii) If the food sector worker works a variable number of hours, 14 times the average number of hours the food sector worker worked each day for or through the hiring entity in the six months preceding the date the food sector worker took COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave. If the food sector worker has worked for the hiring entity fewer than six months, this calculation shall instead be made over the entire period the food sector worker has worked for the hiring entity.

(C) The total number of hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to which a food sector worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be in addition to any paid sick leave that may be available to the food sector worker under Section 246, but shall not be in addition to the total number of hours of supplemental paid sick leave available to the worker under Executive Order N-51-20.

(D) A food sector worker may determine how many hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to use, up to the total number of hours to which the food sector worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B). The hiring entity shall make COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave available for immediate use by the food sector worker, upon the oral or written request of the worker to the hiring entity.

(E) A hiring entity is not required to provide a food sector worker more than the total number of hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to which the food sector worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) above.

(3) (A) Each hour of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave shall be compensated at a rate equal to the highest of the following:

(i) The food sector worker’s regular rate of pay for the food sector worker’s last pay period.

(ii) The state minimum wage.

(iii) The local minimum wage to which the food sector worker is entitled.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a hiring entity shall not be required to pay more than five hundred eleven dollars ($511) per day and five thousand one hundred ten dollars ($5,110) in the aggregate to a food sector worker for COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave taken by the worker.

(4) A hiring entity shall not require a food sector worker to use any other paid or unpaid leave, paid time off, or vacation time provided by the hiring entity to the food sector worker before the food sector worker uses COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave or in lieu of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a hiring entity already provides the relevant food sector worker with a supplemental benefit, such as supplemental paid leave, that is payable for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and that would compensate the food sector worker in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for taking COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to which the food sector worker would otherwise be entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), then the hiring entity may count the hours of the other paid benefit or leave towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave that the hiring entity is required to provide to the food sector worker under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). For purposes of the foregoing, the other supplemental paid benefit or leave that may be counted does not include paid sick leave to which the food sector worker is entitled under Section 246, but may include paid leave already provided by the hiring entity pursuant to Executive Order N-51-20 or supplemental paid leave provided pursuant to federal or local law for the same reasons set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) (1) In addition to other remedies as may be provided by the laws of this state or its subdivisions, including, but not limited to, the remedies available to redress any unlawful business practice under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section. For purposes of such enforcement and to implement COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave, this section shall apply as follows:

(A) The Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section as if COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave constitutes “paid sick days,” “paid sick leave,” or “sick leave” under subdivision (n) of Section 246, subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 246.5, Section 247, Section 247.5, and Section 248.5. Any claim by a covered worker that is enforceable by the Labor Commissioner for supplemental paid sick leave pursuant to Executive Order N-51-20 shall also be enforceable through this section.

(B) Section 249 applies to COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave.

(2) For purposes of sections of this code cited in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1), in construing this section all food sector workers shall be considered employees and any hiring entity shall be considered an employer.

(e) The requirement to provide COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section applies retroactively to April 16, 2020, and shall expire on December 31, 2020 or upon the expiration of any federal extension of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act established by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127), whichever is later, except that a food sector worker taking COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave at the time of the expiration of this section shall be permitted to take the full amount of COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave to which that food sector worker otherwise would have been entitled under this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 45, Sec. 3. (AB 1867) Effective September 9, 2020.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) As used in this section:

(1) “COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave” means supplemental paid sick leave provided pursuant to this section.

(2) “Covered worker” means any person who satisfies the following criteria:

(A) The person satisfies one or more of the following criteria:

(i) The person is employed by a hiring entity, as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3).

(ii) The person is employed as a health care provider or emergency responder, as defined under Section 826.30(c) of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, by a hiring entity as defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) that has elected to exclude such employees from emergency paid sick leave under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127).

(B) The person satisfying one or more of the criteria in subparagraph (A) leaves the person’s home or other place of residence to perform work for the person’s hiring entity.

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a “covered worker” shall not include any of the following:

(i) A person who works in an industry or occupation defined in paragraph (B) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 3-2001, paragraph (H) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 8-2001, paragraph (H) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 13-2001, or paragraph (D) of Section 2 of IWC Wage Order 14-2001.

(ii) A person who works for a hiring entity that operates a food facility, as defined in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code.

(iii) A person who delivers food from a food facility, as defined in Section 113789 of the Health and Safety Code, for or through a hiring entity.

(3) “Hiring entity” means either of the following:

(A) A private sole proprietorship or any kind of private entity whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any kind of corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or any other kind of business enterprise that has 500 or more employees in the United States. For purposes of this paragraph, Section 826.40(a)(1) and (2) of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall be used to determine the number of employees that the hiring entity employs.

(B) An entity, including a public entity, that employs health care providers or emergency responders as defined under Section 826.30(c) of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and that has elected to exclude such employees from emergency paid sick leave under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127).

(4) “IWC Wage Order” means a wage order of the Industrial Welfare Commission.

(b) A covered worker shall be entitled to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(1) A hiring entity shall provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to each covered worker who performs work for the hiring entity if that covered worker is unable to work due to any of the following reasons:

(A) The covered worker is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.

(B) The covered worker is advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine or self-isolate due to concerns related to COVID-19.

(C) The covered worker is prohibited from working by the covered worker’s hiring entity due to health concerns related to the potential transmission of COVID-19.

(2) A covered worker shall be entitled to the following number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave:

(A) A covered worker is entitled to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, if the covered worker satisfies either of the following criteria:

(i) The hiring entity considers the covered worker to work “full time.”

(ii) The covered worker worked or was scheduled to work, on average, at least 40 hours per week for the hiring entity in the two weeks preceding the date the covered worker took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a covered worker who is an active firefighter who was scheduled to work more than 80 hours for the hiring entity in the two weeks preceding the date the covered worker took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave equal to the total number of hours that the covered worker was scheduled to work for the hiring entity in those two preceding weeks. This subparagraph applies to an active firefighting member of any of the following:

(i) A fire department of a city, county, city and county, district, or other public or municipal corporation or political subdivision.

(ii) A fire department of the University of California and the California State University.

(iii) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(iv) A county forestry or firefighting department or unit.

(v) A fire department that serves a United States Department of Defense installation and whose firefighters are certified by the United States Department of Defense as meeting its standards for firefighters.

(vi) A fire department that serves a National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation and that adheres to training standards established in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 13155) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code.

(vii) A fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Part 139 (commencing with Section 139.1) of Subchapter G of Chapter 1 of Title 14 of the Federal Code of Regulations whose firefighters are trained and certified by the State Fire Marshal as meeting the standards of Fire Control 5 and Section 139.319 of Title 14 of the Federal Code of Regulations.

(viii) Fire and rescue services coordinators who work for the Office of Emergency Services. For purposes of this clause, “fire and rescue services coordinators” means coordinators with any of the following job classifications: coordinator, senior coordinator, or chief coordinator.

(C) A covered worker who does not satisfy either of the criteria in subparagraph (A) or (B) is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(i) If the covered worker has a normal weekly schedule, the total number of hours the covered worker is normally scheduled to work for the hiring entity over two weeks.

(ii) If the covered worker works a variable number of hours, 14 times the average number of hours the covered worker worked each day for the hiring entity in the six months preceding the date the covered worker took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave. If the covered worker has worked for the hiring entity over a period of fewer than six months but more than 14 days, this calculation shall instead be made over the entire period the covered worker has worked for the hiring entity.

(iii) If the covered worker works a variable number of hours and has worked for the hiring entity over a period of 14 days or fewer, the total number of hours the covered worker has worked for that hiring entity.

(D) The total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which a covered worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) shall be in addition to any paid sick leave that may be available to the covered worker under Section 246.

(E) A covered worker may determine how many hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to use, up to the total number of hours to which the covered worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C). The hiring entity shall make COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave available for immediate use by the covered worker, upon the oral or written request of the worker to the hiring entity.

(F) A hiring entity is not required to provide a covered worker more than the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered worker is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).

(3) (A) Each hour of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave shall be compensated at a rate equal to the highest of the following:

(i) The covered worker’s regular rate of pay for the covered worker’s last pay period, including pursuant to any collective bargaining agreement that applies.

(ii) The state minimum wage.

(iii) The local minimum wage to which the covered worker is entitled.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a covered worker who is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), shall be compensated for each hour of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the regular rate of pay to which the worker would be entitled as if the worker had been scheduled to work those hours, pursuant to existing law or an applicable collective bargaining agreement.

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or (B), a hiring entity shall not be required to pay more than five hundred eleven dollars ($511) per day and five thousand one hundred ten dollars ($5,110) in the aggregate to a covered worker for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave taken by the worker.

(4) A hiring entity shall not require a covered worker to use any other paid or unpaid leave, paid time off, or vacation time provided by the hiring entity to the covered worker before the covered worker uses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave or in lieu of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a hiring entity already provides a covered worker with a supplemental benefit, such as supplemental paid leave, that is payable for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and that would compensate the covered worker in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered worker is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), then the hiring entity may count the hours of the other paid benefit or leave towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave that the hiring entity is required to provide to the covered worker under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). For purposes of the foregoing, the other supplemental paid benefit or leave that may be counted does not include paid sick leave to which the covered worker is entitled under Section 246, but may include paid leave already provided by the hiring entity pursuant to Executive Order N-51-20 or Section 248, or supplemental paid leave provided pursuant to federal or local law for the same reasons set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). Additionally, if a hiring entity already provided supplemental paid leave between March 4, 2020, and the effective date of this section for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) but did not compensate the covered worker in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered worker is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the employer may retroactively provide supplemental pay to the covered worker to satisfy the compensation requirements under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), in which case those hours may count towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave required under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).

(d) (1) In addition to other remedies as may be provided by the laws of this state or its subdivisions, including, but not limited to, the remedies available to redress any unlawful business practice under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section. For purposes of such enforcement and to implement COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, this section shall apply as follows:

(A) The Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section as if COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave constitutes “paid sick days,” “paid sick leave,” or “sick leave” under subdivisions (i) and (n) of Section 246, subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 246.5, Section 247, Section 247.5, and Section 248.5. However, the requirement in subdivision (i) of Section 246 is not enforceable until the next full pay period following the date of enactment of this section.

(B) Section 249 applies to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(C) By seven days after the effective date of this section, the Labor Commissioner shall make publicly available a model notice for purposes of Section 247. Only for purposes of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, if a hiring entity’s covered workers do not frequent a workplace, the hiring entity may satisfy the notice requirement of subdivision (a) of Section 247 by disseminating notice through electronic means, such as by electronic mail.

(2) For purposes of sections of this code cited in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (1), in construing this section all covered workers shall be considered employees and any hiring entity shall be considered an employer.

(e) The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall take effect not later than 10 days after the date of enactment of this section.

(f) The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall expire on December 31, 2020, or upon the expiration of any federal extension of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act established by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127), whichever is later, except that a covered worker taking COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the time of the expiration of this section shall be permitted to take the full amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which that covered worker otherwise would have been entitled under this section.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2020, Ch. 45, Sec. 4. (AB 1867) Effective September 9, 2020.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) As used in this section:

(1) “COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave” means supplemental paid sick leave provided pursuant to this section.

(2) “Employer” means an employer, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 245.5, that employs more than 25 employees.

(3) “Covered employee” means an employee who is unable to work or telework for an employer because of a reason listed under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(4) “Firefighter” means an active firefighting member of any of the following:

(A) A fire department of a city, county, city and county, district, or other public or municipal corporation or political subdivision.

(B) A fire department of the University of California and the California State University.

(C) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

(D) A county forestry or firefighting department or unit.

(E) A fire department that serves a United States Department of Defense installation and whose firefighters are certified by the United States Department of Defense as meeting its standards for firefighters.

(F) A fire department that serves a National Aeronautics and Space Administration installation and that adheres to training standards established in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 13155) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code.

(G) A fire department that provides fire protection to a commercial airport regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Part 139 (commencing with Section 139.1) of Subchapter G of Chapter 1 of Title 14 of the Federal Code of Regulations whose firefighters are trained and certified by the State Fire Marshal as meeting the standards of Fire Control 5 and Section 139.319 of Title 14 of the Federal Code of Regulations.

(H) Fire and rescue services coordinators who work for the Office of Emergency Services. For purposes of this clause, “fire and rescue services coordinators” means coordinators with any of the following job classifications: coordinator, senior coordinator, or chief coordinator.

(b) A covered employee shall be entitled to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(1) An employer shall provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to each covered employee if that covered employee is unable to work or telework due to any of the following reasons:

(A) The covered employee is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidelines of the State Department of Public Health, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a local health officer who has jurisdiction over the workplace. If the covered employee is subject to more than one of the foregoing, the covered employee shall be permitted to use COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for the minimum quarantine or isolation period under the order or guidelines that provides for the longest such minimum period.

(B) The covered employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.

(C) The covered employee is attending an appointment to receive a vaccine for protection against contracting COVID-19.

(D) The covered employee is experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine that prevent the employee from being able to work or telework.

(E) The covered employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.

(F) The covered employee is caring for a family member, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 245.5, who is subject to an order or guidelines described in subparagraph (A) or who has been advised to self-quarantine, as described in subparagraph (B).

(G) The covered employee is caring for a child, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 245.5, whose school or place of care is closed or otherwise unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19 on the premises.

(2) A covered employee shall be entitled to the following number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave:

(A) A covered employee is entitled to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, if the covered employee satisfies either of the following criteria:

(i) The employer considers the covered employee to work full time.

(ii) The covered employee worked or was scheduled to work, on average, at least 40 hours per week for the employer in the two weeks preceding the date the covered employee took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a covered employee who is a firefighter who was scheduled to work more than 80 hours for the employer in the two weeks preceding the date the covered employee took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave equal to the total number of hours that the covered employee was scheduled to work for the employer in those two preceding weeks.

(C) A covered employee who does not satisfy the criteria in subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(i) If the covered employee has a normal weekly schedule, the total number of hours the covered employee is normally scheduled to work for the employer over two weeks.

(ii) If the covered employee works a variable number of hours, 14 times the average number of hours the covered employee worked each day for the employer in the six months preceding the date the covered employee took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave. If the covered employee has worked for the employer over a period of fewer than six months but more than 14 days, this calculation shall instead be made over the entire period the covered employee has worked for the employer.

(iii) If the covered employee works a variable number of hours and has worked for the employer over a period of 14 days or fewer, the total number of hours the covered employee has worked for that employer.

(D) The total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which a covered employee is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) shall be in addition to any paid sick leave that may be available to the covered employee under Section 246.

(E) A covered employee may determine how many hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to use, up to the total number of hours to which the covered employee is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph. The employer shall make COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave available for immediate use by the covered employee, upon the oral or written request of the covered employee to the employer.

(F) An employer is not required to provide a covered employee more than the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered employee is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph.

(3) (A) Each hour of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave shall be compensated at a rate equal to the following:

(i) For nonexempt covered employees, by the highest of the following:

(I) Calculated in the same manner as the regular rate of pay for the workweek in which the covered employee uses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, whether or not the employee actually works overtime in that workweek.

(II) Calculated by dividing the covered employee’s total wages, not including overtime premium pay, by the employee’s total hours worked in the full pay periods of the prior 90 days of employment.

(III) The state minimum wage.

(IV) The local minimum wage to which the covered employee is entitled.

(ii) COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for exempt covered employees shall be calculated in the same manner as the employer calculates wages for other forms of paid leave time.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a covered employee who is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), shall be compensated for each hour of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the regular rate of pay to which the covered employee would be entitled as if the covered employee had been scheduled to work those hours, pursuant to existing law or an applicable collective bargaining agreement.

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or (B), an employer shall not be required to pay more than five hundred eleven dollars ($511) per day and five thousand one hundred ten dollars ($5,110) in the aggregate to a covered employee for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave taken by the covered employee unless federal legislation is enacted that increases these amounts beyond the amounts that were included in the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act established by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127), in which case the new federal dollar amounts shall apply to this section as of the date the new amounts are applicable under the federal law. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prevent a covered employee who has reached the maximum amounts, as set forth herein, from choosing to utilize other paid leave that is available to the covered employee in order to fully compensate the covered employee for leave taken.

(4) An employer shall not require a covered employee to use any other paid or unpaid leave, paid time off, or vacation time provided by the employer to the covered employee before the covered employee uses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave or in lieu of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, in order to satisfy the requirement to maintain an employee’s earnings when an employee is excluded from the workplace due to COVID-19 exposure under the Cal-OSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards at Sections 3205 through 3205.4, inclusive, of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations or the Cal-OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Standard at Section 5199 of Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, an employer may require a covered employee to first exhaust their COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave under this section.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if an employer pays a covered employee another supplemental benefit for leave taken on or after January 1, 2021, that is payable for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and that compensates the covered employee in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered employee is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), then the employer may count the hours of the other paid benefit or leave towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave that the employer is required to provide to the covered employee under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). For purposes of the foregoing, the other supplemental benefit for leave taken that may be counted does not include paid sick leave to which the covered employee is entitled under Section 246, subdivision (e) of Section 248, or subdivision (f) of Section 248.1 but may include paid leave provided by the employer pursuant to any federal or local law in effect or that became effective on or after January 1, 2021, if the paid leave is provided to the covered employee under that law for any of the same reasons set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) In addition to other remedies as may be provided by the laws of this state or its subdivisions, including, but not limited to, the remedies available to redress any unlawful business practice under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section. For purposes of enforcement and to implement COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, this section shall apply as follows:

(1) The Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section as if COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave constitutes “paid sick days,” “paid sick leave,” or “sick leave” under subdivisions (i) and (n) of Section 246, subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 246.5, Section 247, Section 247.5, and Section 248.5.

(2) For purposes of the enforcement of subdivision (i) of Section 246 as it relates to this section:

(A) COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave shall be set forth separately from paid sick days.

(B) The requirement in subdivision (i) of Section 246 is not enforceable until the next full pay period following the date that this section takes effect.

(C) When covered employees have schedules described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), an employer may meet the requirement of subdivision (i) of Section 246 for such covered employees by doing an initial calculation of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave available and indicating “(variable)” next to that calculation. This, however, does not exempt an employer from providing a covered employee an updated calculation when such a covered employee requests to use COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave or requests relevant records under Section 247.5.

(3) Section 249 applies to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(4) By seven days after the date of enactment of this section, the Labor Commissioner shall make publicly available a model notice for purposes of Section 247. Only for purposes of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave, if an employer’s covered employees do not frequent a workplace, the employer may satisfy the notice requirement of subdivision (a) of Section 247 by disseminating notice through electronic means, such as by electronic mail.

(e) (1) The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall take effect 10 days after the date of enactment of this section, at which time the requirements shall apply retroactively to January 1, 2021.

(2) The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section applies retroactively to January 1, 2021, in order to protect the economic well-being of covered employees who took leave for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) beginning on or after January 1, 2021, when the requirements in Sections 248, 248.1, and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act established by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127) expired, and before the effective date of this section.

(A) For any such leave taken, if the employer did not compensate the covered employee in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered employee is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), then upon the oral or written request of the employee, the employer shall provide the covered employee with a retroactive payment that provides for such compensation.

(B) For any such retroactive payment, the number of hours of leave corresponding to the amount of the retroactive payment shall count towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave that the employer is required to provide to the covered employee under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).

(C) This retroactive payment shall be paid on or before the payday for the next full pay period after the oral or written request of the covered employee. The retroactive payment shall be reflected on the written notice required by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) for the corresponding pay period.

(D) The requirement to provide a retroactive payment under this subdivision is in addition to the requirements in subdivision (e) of Section 248 and subdivision (f) of Section 248.1 that a covered employee taking COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave or COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the time of the expiration of those sections shall be permitted to take the full amount of such supplemental paid sick leave to which that covered employee otherwise would have been entitled under those sections.

(f) The requirement to provide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall remain in effect through September 30, 2021, except that a covered employee taking COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the time of the expiration of this section shall be permitted to take the full amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the covered employee otherwise would have been entitled under this section.

(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(h) The provisions of this section shall not apply to providers of in-home supportive services under Section 14132.95, 14132.952, or 14132.956 of, or Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, or waiver personal care services pursuant to Section 14132.97 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 13, Sec. 1. (SB 95) Effective March 19, 2021.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) As used in this section:

(1) “COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave” means supplemental paid sick leave provided pursuant to this section.

(2) “Provider” or “providers” means a provider of in-home supportive services under Section 14132.95, 14132.952, or 14132.956 of, or Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, or waiver personal care services pursuant to Section 14132.97 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) “Work” or “worked” means providing authorized in-home supportive services under Section 14132.95, 14132.952, or 14132.956 of, or Article 7 (commencing with Section 12300) of Chapter 3 of Part 3 of Division 9 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, or waiver personal care services pursuant to Section 14132.97 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to an eligible recipient.

(b) A provider shall be entitled to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows:

(1) COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave shall be available to a provider if that provider is unable to work due to any of the following reasons:

(A) The provider is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidelines of the State Department of Public Health, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a local health officer who has jurisdiction over the workplace. If the provider is subject to more than one of the foregoing, the provider shall be permitted to use COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for the minimum quarantine or isolation period under the order or guidelines that provides for the longest minimum period.

(B) The provider has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.

(C) The provider is attending an appointment to receive a vaccine for protection against contracting COVID-19.

(D) The provider is experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine that prevents the provider from being able to work.

(E) The provider is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.

(F) The provider is caring for a family member, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 245.5, who is subject to an order or guidelines described in subparagraph (A) or who has been advised to self-quarantine, as described in subparagraph (B).

(G) The provider is caring for a child, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 245.5, whose school or place of care is closed or otherwise unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19 on the premises.

(2) A provider shall be entitled to the following number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave:

(A) A provider is entitled to 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave if the provider worked or was scheduled to work, on average, at least 40 hours per week in the two weeks preceding the date the provider took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(B) A provider who does not satisfy the criteria in subparagraph (A) is entitled to an amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as follows, up to a maximum of 80 hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave:

(i) If the provider has a regular weekly schedule, the total number of hours the provider is normally scheduled to work over two weeks.

(ii) If the provider works a variable number of hours, 14 times the average number of hours the provider worked each day for the employer in the six months preceding the date the provider took COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave. If the provider has worked over a period of fewer than six months but more than 14 days, this calculation shall instead be made over the entire period the provider has worked.

(iii) If the provider works a variable number of hours and has worked over a period of 14 days or fewer, the total number of hours the provider has worked.

(C) The total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which a provider is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) shall be determined on the first day that the provider uses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave under this section and shall be in addition to any paid sick leave that may be available to the provider under Section 246.

(D) A provider may determine how many hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to use, up to the total number of hours to which the provider is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B). The COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is available for immediate use by the provider, and the provider shall inform the recipient of the need to take sick leave and submit a sick leave claim to the county consistent with established procedures in that county.

(E) A provider is not entitled to more than the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the provider is entitled pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B).

(3) Each hour of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave shall be compensated at the regular rate of pay to which the provider would be entitled if the provider had been scheduled to work those hours pursuant to existing law or an applicable collective bargaining agreement.

(4) A provider shall not be required to use any other paid or unpaid leave before the provider uses COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave or in lieu of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if a provider takes paid leave on or after April 1, 2021, that is payable for the reasons listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) that compensates the provider in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the provider is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), the hours of the other paid benefit or leave may be counted towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the provider is entitled under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b). For purposes of the foregoing, the other supplemental benefit for leave taken that may be counted does not include paid sick leave to which the provider may be entitled to under Section 246, but may include paid leave provided by any federal or local law that becomes effective on or after April 1, 2021, if the paid leave is provided to the provider under that law for any of the same reasons set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) (1) The entitlement to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall take effect 10 days after the date of enactment of this section, at which time the entitlements shall apply retroactively to January 1, 2021.

(2) The entitlement to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section applies retroactively to January 1, 2021.

(A) For any such leave taken, if the provider was not compensated in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of compensation for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the provider is entitled as set forth under paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), then the provider shall be entitled to a retroactive payment that provides for such compensation.

(B) For any such retroactive payment, the number of hours of leave corresponding to the amount of the retroactive payment shall count towards the total number of hours of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave that the provider is entitled to under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).

(C) The COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave provided under this section is in addition to any unused sick leave benefits put in place by the federal Family First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116-127), which a provider may still use until March 31, 2021.

(e) The entitlement to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave as set forth in this section shall remain in effect through September 30, 2021, except that a provider taking COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave at the time of the expiration of this section shall be permitted to take the full amount of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to which the provider otherwise would have been entitled under this section.

(f) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(g) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions, without taking any regulatory action.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 13, Sec. 2. (SB 95) Effective March 19, 2021.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days


text:
(a) The Labor Commissioner shall enforce this article, including investigating an alleged violation, and ordering appropriate temporary relief to mitigate the violation or to maintain the status quo pending the completion of a full investigation or hearing through the procedures set forth in Sections 98, 98.3, 98.7, 98.74, or 1197.1, including by issuance of a citation against an employer who violates this article, and by filing a civil action. If a citation is issued, the procedures for issuing, contesting, and enforcing judgments for citations and civil penalties issued by the Labor Commissioner shall be the same as those set out in Section 98.74 or 1197.1, as appropriate.

(b) (1) If the Labor Commissioner, in any administrative proceeding under subdivision (a), determines that a violation of this article has occurred, they may order any appropriate relief, including reinstatement, backpay, the payment of sick days unlawfully withheld, and the payment of an additional sum in the form of an administrative penalty to an employee or other person whose rights under this article were violated.

(2) If paid sick days were unlawfully withheld, the dollar amount of paid sick days withheld from the employee multiplied by three, or two hundred fifty dollars ($250), whichever amount is greater, but not to exceed an aggregate penalty of four thousand dollars ($4,000), shall be included in the administrative penalty.

(3) If a violation of this article results in other harm to the employee or person, such as discharge from employment, or otherwise results in a violation of the rights of the employee or person, the administrative penalty shall include a sum of fifty dollars ($50) for each day or portion thereof that the violation occurred or continued, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of four thousand dollars ($4,000).

(c) Where prompt compliance by an employer is not forthcoming, the Labor Commissioner may take any appropriate enforcement action to secure compliance, including the filing of a civil action. In compensation to the state for the costs of investigating and remedying the violation, the commissioner may order the violating employer to pay to the state a sum of not more than fifty dollars ($50) for each day or portion of a day a violation occurs or continues for each employee or other person whose rights under this article were violated.

(d) An employee or other person may report to the Labor Commissioner a suspected violation of this article. The commissioner shall encourage reporting pursuant to this subdivision by keeping confidential, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the name and other identifying information of the employee or person reporting the violation. However, the commissioner may disclose that person’s name and identifying information as necessary to enforce this article or for other appropriate purposes, upon the authorization of that person.

(e) The Labor Commissioner or the Attorney General may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the employer or other person violating this article and, upon prevailing, shall be entitled to collect legal or equitable relief on behalf of the aggrieved as may be appropriate to remedy the violation, including reinstatement, backpay, the payment of sick days unlawfully withheld, the payment of an additional sum, not to exceed an aggregate penalty of four thousand dollars ($4,000), as liquidated damages in the amount of fifty dollars ($50) to each employee or person whose rights under this article were violated for each day or portion thereof that the violation occurred or continued, plus, if the employer has unlawfully withheld paid sick days to an employee, the dollar amount of paid sick days withheld from the employee multiplied by three; or two hundred fifty dollars ($250), whichever amount is greater; and reinstatement in employment or injunctive relief; and further shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, provided, however, that any person or entity enforcing this article on behalf of the public as provided for under applicable state law shall, upon prevailing, be entitled only to equitable, injunctive, or restitutionary relief, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

(f) In an administrative or civil action brought under this article, the Labor Commissioner or court, as the case may be, shall award interest on all amounts due and unpaid at the rate of interest specified in subdivision (b) of Section 3289 of the Civil Code.

(g) The remedies, penalties, and procedures provided under this article are cumulative.

(h) An employer shall not be assessed any penalty or liquidated damages under this article due to an isolated and unintentional payroll error or written notice error that is a clerical or an inadvertent mistake regarding the accrual or available use of paid sick leave. In reviewing for compliance with this section, the factfinder may consider as a relevant factor whether the employer, prior to an alleged violation, has adopted and is in compliance with a set of policies, procedures, and practices that fully comply with this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 45, Sec. 5. (AB 1867) Effective September 9, 2020.)

article: 1.5. Paid Sick Days