Pasadena Business Owners Hear Details of New California Sick Leave Laws

 

 

A new California law requiring at least three paid sick days per year for nearly all employees statewide goes into effect July 1.

At a workshop for Pasadena business owners held by the Pasadena Chamber of Congress expert consultant Dr. Carlyle Rogers unpacked the extensive requirements that will make “many employees happy.”

Employees who work on commission will receive the biggest benefit, as the pay for sick leave may be a significant pay increase from regular pay depending on how many hours were worked in the 90 days prior.

“It’s really, really expensive. Incentives, per diems, even non cash incentives have to be included into regular rate of pay,” Rogers said.

Employers may need to call into question policies of “no show, no call, no job.” If the employee claims the reason he or she did not show up to work is due to being sick the employer has to take that part at face value and only the failure to call is subject to discipline.

“Under the law a person merely has to tell you that they took sick leave or they are going to take it,” Rogers said.

Employees will no longer need to prove whether or not they were sick or why they did not show up to work as long as it is claimed as a sick day.

“It’s a lot of work,” one workshop attendee commented.

The law has several specifics that most California employers must adhere to starting July 1. Rogers advises all business owners to research this law or attend one of his workshops before a lawsuit has time to arise.

“We were thankful at the Chamber of Commerce to have someone come out and explain the in’s and out’s, the do’s and don’t of the new law. We really don’t want to have our members not do it correctly and then have to pay for that,” Paul Little, President of Pasadena Chamber of Commerce said.

Workshops about labor laws are offered every two weeks at the Pasadena City College Community Education Center. Contact Carlyle Rogers at Carlyle@bpscllc.com or visit his website www.bpscllc.com for more information.