New Employee Notice Must Be Distributed in California by February 1, 2026 and Emergency Contact Information Must Be Permitted by March 30, 2026

Senate Bill 294 (known as “The Workplace Know Your Rights Act”) in California takes effect in 2026.  By January 1, 2026, the California Labor Commissioner must create a new template notice for employees listing a myriad of legal rights and protections that exist for employees. And by no later than February 1, 2026 (and annually thereafter), employers must provide their current California employees (and to all new employees upon hire) with the new standalone notice.  

By March 30, 2026, employers must allow employees and new hires the opportunity to name an emergency contact and permit the employee to make a separate election that the emergency contact be notified by the employer in the case of the employee’s arrest or detention while on the job.  The employee must be allowed to update their emergency contact throughout the duration of employment.  

The penalty for violation is significant, carrying a fine of up to $500 per employee for failure to provide the notice.  Failure to allow designation of an emergency contact as described above may also result in another fine of $500 per employee for each day of violation up to a max of $10,000 per employee.  Punitive damages and attorney fees can also be assessed against the employer.  

As of this article’s publication date, the California Labor Commissioner has not yet released a template of the new notice.  The full text of the new law (SB 294) is available here.