A new California employee rights law, SB 294, recently signed by the governor and effective in February 2026, aims to keep workers’ rights front and center.
A flurry of federal executive orders in 2025 has made it difficult for both employers and employees to understand how best to comply with existing law or recognize when rights are violated, according to a fact sheet from state Sen. Eloise Gómez Reyes, D-San Bernardino, who sponsored the bill.
“This confusion over state and federal laws often intimidates workers into remaining silent and makes them susceptible to civil and labor law violations,” the fact sheet states.
SB 294 establishes a framework requiring employers to educate workers about their rights under California and federal law. It also requires notice to a worker’s emergency contact in the event of arrest or detention, including worksite raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Now, more than ever, it is imperative that workers and employers know their rights under California and federal law,” the fact sheet states.
When a worker is hired and annually thereafter, employers must provide written notice of employee rights, including:
- Workers’ compensation benefits, including disability pay and medical care for work-related illnesses or injuries.
- Notice requirements related to inspections by immigration agencies.
- Protection from unfair immigration-related practices when exercising protected rights.
- The right to organize a union or engage in concerted activity in the workplace.
- Constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement in the workplace, including the Fourth and Fifth Amendments.
Under this California employee rights notice law, the Labor Commissioner’s Office must develop standardized notice templates, updated annually, in the most frequently spoken languages, along with a video explaining these rights.
Workers are protected from retaliation for exercising any of these rights, and employers may face financial penalties for failing to provide the required notices.
If you have been mistreated by your employer or believe your rights under California employment law have been violated, contact Keller Grover here for a free, confidential consultation. We can help you understand your rights, your options, and prudent steps to protect yourself. In more than 25 years litigating employment cases, Keller Grover has recovered billions for its clients.