Compliance Poster Company is closely watching as California Assembly Labor and Employment Committee furthers two important legislative bills for consideration, Minimum Wage (Annual Adjustments) and Discrimination in Employment (Reasonable Accommodations). These bills advanced further through the legislative process on Wednesday, with “Do Pass” approvals.
- Annual adjustments in the hourly minimum wage are provided for on January 1, 2013, and annually thereafter based on the California Consumer Price Index. The minimum wage bill would prohibit the Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) from adjusting the minimum wage downward and also from adjusting the minimum wage upward if the average percentage of inflation for the previous year was negative.
- The Discrimination in Employment: Reasonable Accommodations bill would amend the Fair Employment and Housing Act that requires an employer or other covered entity to reasonably accommodate the religious belief or observance of an individual unless the accommodation would be an undue hardship on the employer. It further specifies factors to be considered in determining undue hardship for protections against discrimination. Additionally, accommodation would not be considered reasonable if it requires segregation of an employee. The bill requires religious clothing and hairstyles to be covered by the protections.
Compliance Poster Company’s Legal Research Team is monitoring the developments of these and other labor and employment-related bills during California’s 2012 legislative session. As bills move through the legislative process we will update you on the actions, when necessary.