Remember: Los Angeles County Hotel Workers Protection Ordinance Starts April 1, 2026
Los Angeles County’s Hotel Workers Protection Ordinance (HWPO) takes effect on April 1, 2026, with public housekeeping training requirements beginning October 1, 2026. The law mandates panic‑button devices for staff working alone, caps daily room‑cleaning workloads, and limits shifts to 10 hours without written consent. It also requires six hours of live training covering safety, trafficking, and disease prevention, plus comprehensive record‑keeping and on‑site responder availability. Employers must post notices, update signage, and inform both current and new employees of the new standards.
Cal/OSHA Releases Proposed Workplace Inspection “Walkaround” Rule
California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has issued a proposed rule that defines who may accompany inspectors during workplace safety walk‑arounds. The rule mirrors the 2024 federal OSHA “walkaround” standard but expands the definition of employee‑authorized representatives to...
EEOC Issues Remote Work Accommodations Guidance
The EEOC issued FAQ‑style guidance for federal agencies on how to treat remote‑work requests as reasonable accommodations under the ADA and FEHA. It clarifies that remote work is only an accommodation when it enables essential job functions, participation in hiring,...
Minimum Wage for Certain Federal Contractors Will Increase May 11, 2026
On February 9 2026 the U.S. Department of Labor announced that the minimum wage for federal contractors covered by Executive Order 13658 will rise to $13.65 per hour effective May 11 2026, up from $13.30. EO 13658, issued in 2014, applies to contracts made, renewed or...
Supreme Court Clarifies Rules Around Illegible Arbitration Agreements
California’s Supreme Court in Fuentes v. Empire Nissan clarified that a barely readable arbitration clause creates procedural unconscionability, but enforceability still hinges on substantive fairness. The court found the arbitration terms themselves were not inherently one‑sided, yet it sent the...
Fourth Circuit Court Vacates Injunction Against DEI Executive Orders
On February 6, 2026 the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a nationwide preliminary injunction that had blocked two Trump‑era executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal contracting and grantmaking. The court ruled the plaintiffs...
Gain Confidence Complying with California HR Laws at HR Boot Camp
California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is hosting a virtual HR Boot Camp on February 26‑27, 2026, offering two half‑day seminars to help employers navigate California’s complex employment laws. The curriculum spans hiring, wage‑and‑hour rules, paid‑time‑off policies, protected leaves, reasonable accommodations, harassment prevention,...
Concerns About Employee’s Off-Duty Social Media Posts on Politics?
Employers facing concerns about a new hire’s off‑duty political posts must proceed cautiously. California law and the National Labor Relations Act protect lawful political expression outside work, limiting an employer’s ability to discipline based solely on beliefs. However, conduct that...
Recent Case Highlights Need for Employers to Strictly Comply with Background Check Rules
A California Court of Appeal ruled that applicants can sue for violations of the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (ICRAA) without proving actual harm, awarding statutory damages of $10,000 or more. The decision arose from Parsonage v. Wal‑Mart, where the...