California employee handbook

Many California cities have additional required policies if employees are based in one of the following cities. Here are some of the most important policies required for each of these cities, followed by their breakdown. Policies for cities change frequently and this list is not exhaustive.

• Berkeley
• Emeryville
• Los Angeles
• Oakland
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Santa Monica
• West Hollywood

City of Berkeley

• Berkeley Paid Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of Berkeley, CA with paid sick leave. Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and may begin to use accrued sick leave 90 days after the commencement of employment. If the company has fewer than 25 employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued paid sick leave is capped at 48 hours. If the company has 25 or more employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued sick leave is capped at 72 hours.
• Berkeley Fair Workweek Ordinance: The ordinance requires certain large retail, hospitality, and food service employers in Berkeley to provide employees with fair and predictable work schedules. Covered employers must give workers at least two weeks advance notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. Employees have the right to decline additional hours that were not previously scheduled and must be offered available shifts before new hires are made. The law also includes provisions for rest between shifts, and requires at least 10 hours between scheduled shifts unless the employee voluntarily agrees to work with extra pay. Employers may not retaliate against workers who use these protections,, and violations may result in penalties and legal action.

City of Emeryville

• Emeryville Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of Emeryville, CA with paid sick leave. Small businesses must provide no less than 48 hours of paid sick leave each year, while larger employers must provide no less than 72 hours. A small business has 25 or fewer employees.
• Emeryville Fair Workweek Ordinance: The law requires retail and fast-food employers in Emeryville to provide employees with predictable work schedules and stable hours. It applies to retail firms with 56 or more employees globally and fast food firms with 56 or more employees globally and at least 20 employees in Emeryville. Covered employers must give employees at least 14 days advance notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. Employees have the right to decline unscheduled hours and must be offered additional shifts before new hires are made. The ordinance also mandates at least 11 hours of rest between shifts, unless the employee agrees to work with premium pay. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who exercise their rights, and violations may result in penalties and legal action.

City of Los Angeles

• Los Angeles Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of Los Angeles, CA with paid sick leave. For every 30 hours worked, employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave. Employees can use up to 80 hours of sick leave per year.
• Los Angeles Fair Work Week Ordinance: The ordinance requires large retail employers in Los Angeles with 300 or more employees globally to provide workers with predictable schedules and stable hours. Employers must give employees at least 14 days advance notice of their schedules and compensate them for any last-minute changes. Employees have the right to decline additional hours that were not previously scheduled and must be offered available shifts before new hires are made. The law also mandates at least 10 hours of rest between shifts, unless the employee consents to work with premium pay. Retaliation against employees for asserting their rights is prohibited, and violations may result in penalties, back pay, and other legal consequences.

City of Oakland

• Oakland Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of Oakland, CA with paid sick leave. For every 30 hours worked, employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave. If the company has fewer than 10 employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued paid sick leave is capped at 40 hours. If the company has 10 or more employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued paid sick leave is capped at 72 hours.

City of San Diego

• San Diego Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of San Diego, CA with paid sick leave. For every 30 hours worked, employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave. Employees can earn up to 80 hours of paid sick leave annually, but can only use 40 hours of sick time in a particular year.

City of Santa Monica

• Santa Monica Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of Santa Monica, CA with paid sick leave. Employers must provide 40 hours (small businesses) or 72 hours (larger businesses) of paid sick leave

City of San Francisco

• San Francisco Sick Leave Policy: Employers are required to provide employees based in the city of San Francisco, CA with paid sick leave. For every 30 hours worked, employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave. If the company has fewer than 10 employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued paid sick leave is capped at 40 hours. If the company has 10 or more employees at the start of the calendar year, an employee’s accrued paid sick leave is capped at 72 hours.
  
• San Francisco Family Friendly Workplace Policy: Employers are required to provide certain employees with flexible work arrangements to assist with caregiving responsibilities.
  
• San Francisco Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: A city-specific EEO policy provides protections for employees based on protected characteristics.
  
• San Francisco Lactation Accommodation Policy: Employers are required to provide accommodations for nursing mothers to express breast milk.
  
• San Francisco Mass Transit Commuter Benefits Policy: Certain employees are eligible to exclude certain commuting costs from taxable wages.
  
• San Francisco Paid Parental Leave Benefits Policy: Provides up to eight weeks of parental leave and partial wage replacement for employees who need time away from work to care for a child.

City of West Hollywood

• West Hollywood Paid Leave Policy: Provides up to 96 paid hours of paid leave to full-time employees. Employees are also provided with unpaid leave.