New California laws 2022: Workplace | cbs8.com – CBS News 8
Find out how your workplace may be affected with new 2022 laws.
CALIFORNIA, USA — As we head into a new year with high hopes for the economy to continue to recover and grow, 2022 has brought something that everyone can count on: new state laws.
Some of the new laws include one that will require the Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide a person additional notification prior to disqualifying them from receiving their benefits. Another will require warehouse employers to disclose quotas and pace-of-work standards to workers.
Here is what you need to know about new workplace laws that are officially on the books in 2022.
Summary: This bill requires warehouse employers of 100 or more employees at a warehouse distribution center or 1000 or more employees at one or more warehouses to (1) disclose quotas and pace-of-work standards to workers, (2) prohibits employers from counting time that workers spend complying with health and safety laws as “time off task,” and (3) requires the Labor Commissioner to enforce these provisions.
What’s new: AB-701 is a bill that proposes a series of provisions designed to ensure that the use of job performance quotas at large warehouse facilities does not penalize workers for complying with health and safety standards or taking meal and rest breaks.
The bill would provide that an employee is not required to meet a quota that prevents compliance with meal or rest periods, use of bathroom facilities, or occupational health and safety laws, as specified. The bill would prohibit an employer from taking adverse action against an employee for failure to meet a quota that has not been disclosed.
This bill would require the Labor Commissioner to enforce these provisions.
Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), the author of the bill, said “it’s unacceptable for the largest and wealthiest employers in the country to put workers’ bodies and lives at risk just so consumers can get next-day delivery.”
She agrees that this bill is needed because it would “strengthen warehouse workers’ rights against arbitrary and abusive work quota systems.”
“This bill would specifically prohibit an employer from retaliating against or firing an employee for failing to meet a quota that would not allow a worker to comply with health and safety laws,” Gonzalez said.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, co-sponsors of this bill, said California must demand better from these companies and argue that “many workers see no other job options and feel they must accept unsafe conditions to keep a roof over their heads.”
The the California Chamber of Commerce, in opposition, argue that the bill will “create a new private right of action based on vague standards.”
Summary: Requires the Employment Development Department (EDD) to provide an individual additional notification prior to disqualifying them from unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.
What’s new: This bill would specify that the notice may be combined with other notices from EDD, which may include (1) notifications of potential overpayments and of eligibility interviews rather than a stand-alone notice. 2) Instead of 30 days, allows an individual a period of not less than 10 days to respond to the determination of ineligibility. 3) Requires EDD to implement this measure by September 1, 2022.
Why is it needed: Assemblymember Chad Mayes (I-District 42) and Assemblymember David Chiu (D-District 17), the authors of the bill, said a claimant may receive a false statement penalty when they accidentally answer certification questions incorrectly and receive an overpayment.
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