California Civil Rights Department Publishes Disability Accommodations at Work Fact Sheet
The new Fact Sheet addresses issues such as requesting accommodations, providing medical information, the interactive process, and safety accommodations after a qualifying act of violence.
California Court Clarifies When Employers Have Knowledge of an Employee’s Disability for Purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act
California law prohibits discrimination in the workplace vis-à-vis an employee’s “known” disability. A California appellate court recently clarified the standards that apply in the context of disability discrimination, failure to engage in the interactive process, and failure to reasonably accommodate where an employee engages in conduct that might be the result of a mental disability, but could be the result of other factors, and the employee has not disclosed the existence of a disability.
California Civil Rights Department Publishes Religious Discrimination and Accommodations Fact Sheet and Ninth Circuit Addresses Undue Hardship Defense in Context of COVID-19 Vaccines
Both California and federal laws prohibit religious discrimination and require reasonable accommodations unless doing so would create an undue hardship. This week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit addressed the undue hardship defense under federal law in the context of COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, the California Civil Rights Department published a Fact Sheet to assist employers in understanding their obligations and ensure compliance regarding religious discrimination and accommodations under California law.
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
Consistent with the changes that went into effect on January 1, 2025, pursuant to California Assembly Bill 2499, the California Civil Rights Department has published its model form notice related to victims and survivors of qualifying acts of violence. California employers’ obligation to post and distribute this notice became effective with the state’s July 1, 2025 publication. This week’s legal update provides information about how to access that model form notice, employer obligations to post and distribute it to employees, and additional resources provided to employers and employees.
Practical Steps for Employers to Engage in the Interactive Process and Provide Reasonable Accommodations
The beginning of each year is a good time to re-evaluate current practices and procedures to ensure supervisors know how to recognize and assist employees in communicating needs and obtaining resources to perform their essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
2025 Legislative Amendments Related to Time Off for Jury Duty, Court Appearances, and Victim-Involved Activities
New legislation impacts employee rights and employer obligations regarding jury duty, court appearances, and victim-involved time off.