Overview
- The Labor Commissioner published the SB 294 model notice in English and Spanish, with Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi versions expected next.
- Employers must provide the notice to current employees by February 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, give it to new hires upon hire, and send it annually to any exclusive bargaining representative.
- The notice may be delivered by personal service, email, or text message using methods reasonably expected to reach employees within one business day.
- Employers must issue the notice in the language normally used for employment communications if a template in that language is available on the Labor Commissioner’s site; otherwise English is permitted.
- SB 294 requires offering employees an emergency‑contact designation by March 30, 2026 and notifying that contact if the employee is arrested or detained during work; the Labor Commissioner will update the notice annually, post educational videos by July 1, 2026, employers should retain distribution records for three years, and reported guidance cites penalties up to $500 per employee or higher for ongoing emergency‑contact violations.