By: Monica Folsom

Assembly Bill (“AB”) 2499, which took effect on January 1, 2025, expanded the list of crimes for which employees who are victims are entitled to take protected leave to include not only domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking but also other qualifying crimes or acts of violence such as those involving serious bodily injury, threats of injury or death, and crimes resulting in the death of a family member. It also requires employers with 25 or more employees to offer the same leave protections to employees when one of their family members is the victim of such crimes or qualifying acts of violence.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has issued an official model notice that complies with the employer’s obligation to provide employees with written notice of their rights under the statute. The written notice must be distributed to new hires and to all employees annually as well at any time upon request and at any time the employer becomes newly aware that an employee or an employee’s family member is a victim. Employers may use the CRD model notice, or they create their own notice as long as the notice is “substantially similar in content and clarity” as the CRD model notice.

More information on AB 2499 may be found here.

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