Employee rights changes for 2018 bring some benefits

Several changes became effective at the start of 2018. Employee rights in California will see changes to family leave and minimum wages, and salary history will no longer play a role, while previous convictions need not be disclosed. The changes will benefit all, and traditional employment challenges faced by certain marginalized groups will be eliminated.

An individual who has a record of criminal convictions for crimes such as dealing in drugs or shoplifting will have the opportunity to obtain gainful employment because he or she will not have to disclose such convictions on a job application. However, employers may ask for disclosure after making a firm job offer to the applicant. Authorities also tackled the gender pay gap by prohibiting employers from asking a job applicant to reveal previous pay scales to prevent ongoing cycles of low wages for women.

Another benefit for workers will be up to 12 weeks of family leave. This unpaid leave will enable employees of companies with a particular number of employees to take family leave to provide health care to family members when necessary without risking job loss. The slight increase in the minimum pay level is the last change. All companies that employ 26 or more workers must pay them at least $11 per hour as another step toward the aim of $15 per hour by 2022.

California employees who have questions about their employee rights may find answers by consulting with an experienced employment law attorney. Some employers may not implement the new changes immediately, and workers are entitled to report non-compliance with new laws. A lawyer can assess the allegations and surrounding circumstances before suggesting the most appropriate way to proceed.

Source: sfweekly.com, “2018 Brings Perks for California Workers“, Ida Mojadad, Dec. 28, 2017