California Civil Rights Department Publishes Model Form Notice Regarding Rights of Employees Who Are, or Whose Family Members Are, Victims and/or Survivors of Violence Along with Additional Resources

As summarized in a prior legal update, AB 2499 modified existing law regarding, among other things, victim-involved time off and accommodation, and moved certain provisions from the Labor Code to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), within the enforcement authority of the California Civil Rights Department (CRD).

This revised statutory scheme sets forth employer obligations with regard to persons against whom qualifying acts of violence have been committed, including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other conduct or patterns of conduct defined by the legislation.

In addition to detailing the nature of employee rights regarding leaves of absence and reasonable accommodation, the legislation requires employers to inform employees of those rights in writing upon hire, annually, at any time upon request, and any time an employee informs an employer that the employee or the employee’s family member is a victim. The legislation required the CRD to develop and post a model form by July 1, 2025, at which point employers’ posting and distribution obligations would go into effect. CRD published its model form notice, consistent with these requirements, on July 1, 2025.

The CRD model form notice, entitled “Survivors of Violence and Family Members of Victims Right to Leave and Accommodations,” is available in multiple languages. Although employers are not required to use this specific form, doing so will satisfy the requirements of this legislation and using other language risks noncompliance. If an employer elects not to use the form developed by the CRD, it must provide a notice that is substantially similar in content and clarity.

Employers must now post this or a substantially similar form and distribute it to employees immediately, annually thereafter, at any time upon request, and any time an employee informs the employer that the employee or the employee’s family member is a victim, and must also provide it to all new employees upon hire.

For more information regarding CRD’s enforcement of AB 2499, employee rights, and employer responsibilities, CRD has also posted a Survivors of Violence and Family Members of Victims Right to Leave and Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

This legal update and any use of its information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing contained on this website should be considered legal advice for any specific employer or employment situation. Consult legal counsel before taking any action as a result of information contained herein.