California Leaves of Absence

Call for Papers

California is one of the most complex states in which to do business and that complexity flows through to the complications that employers face when meeting their obligations under CA employment laws. One of these reasons is the many types of leave offered to CA employees and the many reasons for which employees can take leave. Employer requirements for managing leaves especially medical leaves of absence are bewildering. Even human resources professionals can be confused by the myriad of leave types in the state. And for some leaves even local laws must be considered. Just as serious is how these types of leaves interact with federal requirements. Although some provisions under California laws are similar to federal laws, many of them are not and assuming they are can cause big trouble. It can feel overwhelming to manage leaves of absence and feel confident that the employer is compliant.

Astute compliance with laws related to the various leave types is critical for any company with California-based employees. Liability costs for non-compliance can be staggering. Just as important is the cost of damaged employee relations and engagement as well as external organizational reputation. While companies will turn to their labor attorneys to walk them through the specific details of employee situations, it’s important for HR professionals and anyone else who deals with managing and monitoring leaves of absence in their companies to understand this field.