Reminder to Provide Annual Notice Regarding Rights of Victims and/or Survivors of Qualifying Acts of Violence and Related Obligations
Over the past several years, as set forth in prior legal updates (December 2024 and July 2025), California has developed and expanded protections for employees who are victims of, or whose family members are victims of, qualifying acts of violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other conduct or patterns of conduct defined by the legislation.
This includes, among other things, rights and obligations with regard to time off work, the use of sick leave, reasonable accommodations to ensure the safety of employees at work, and the prohibition against discrimination and retaliation for exercising these rights and seeking related protections.
The California Civil Rights Department (the “CRD”) is now responsible for enforcing the provisions of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (the “FEHA”) that currently set forth these rights and obligations and is actively seeking to educate employers and employees about them.
Among other requirements, employers must inform employees of their 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.
Last summer, the CRD published its model form notice, entitled “Survivors of Violence and Family Members of Victims Right to Leave and Accommodations,” consistent with these requirements. The notice is available in multiple languages. Although employers are not required to provide the specific notice published by the CRD, they must provide one that is “substantially similar in content and clarity.” The notice published by the CRD is presumptively compliant.
As we approach the one-year anniversary since this notice became available, this is a good reminder for employers to reissue the notice to employees again, consistent with their obligation to do so annually.
For additional information, the CRD also published 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.
