6/22/21
By: Mandy Hexom
On April 16, 2021, Governor Newson signed into law a right to notice and recall of certain employees in the hospitality, event center, airport, private club, and commercial property service industries who were laid off due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new law is set forth in California Labor Code Section 2810.8, which became effective immediately and does not expire until December 31, 2024.
What businesses or employers must comply?
What if the ownership, organization, or location of the business changed?
Even if the ownership or organization of the business changed, if the business still operates the same or similar operations as before the COVID-19 state of emergency, the business must comply with this new law. The same is true if the business moved offices or locations.
Requirements of the Right-to-Recall Law
How is the Right-to-Recall Law Enforced?
Non-compliance with Labor Code Section 2810.8 will give the former employee a right to file a complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. A private right of action to file a lawsuit in court is not permitted. An aggrieved employee can recover front pay, back pay, lost benefits, and/or reinstatement if the employee prevails.
Depending on how many employees are covered within the business, civil monetary penalties ($100) and liquidated damages ($500) per employee for each day the law is violated until the violation is cured can be enormous.
However, there may still be a right to file a lawsuit for certain aggrieved employees. Check your local ordinances as cities or counties in San Diego, Carlsbad, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Oakland, Santa Clara, and San Francisco have also passed similar local laws. These local versions of the Right-to-Recall may permit an aggrieved employee to file a lawsuit in court.
For covered employers, carefully read and follow the requirements of Labor Code Section 2810.8. Click the following link for the full text of Labor Code Section 2810.8: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=2810.8.&nodeTreePath=4.2.3&lawCode=LAB
If you have any questions, please contact Mandy Hexom at mhexom@fmglaw.com or 619-515-5403.
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