CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 5Introduced by Assembly Members Gonzalez and Kalra(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chu and Mark Stone)December 05, 2016 An act to add Section 559 to the Labor Code, relating to employers. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 5, as introduced, Gonzalez. Employers: Opportunity to Work Act.Existing law creates the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations for the purpose of enforcing labor laws. Existing law, with certain exceptions, establishes 8 hours as a days work and a 40-hour workweek, and requires payment of prescribed overtime compensation for additional hours worked.This bill would create the Opportunity to Work Act. The bill would require an employer with 10 or more employees to offer additional hours of work to an existing nonexempt employee before hiring an additional employee or subcontractor, except as specified, would require an employer to post a notice of employee rights, as specified, and would require the employer to maintain certain documentation. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint for violation of these provisions with the division and to, in the alternative, bring a civil action for remedies under the act. The bill would require the division to enforce these provisions, as specified and would authorize the division to, among other things, adopt rules and regulations. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty. The bill would also define various terms for these purposes.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 559 is added to the Labor Code, to read:559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 5Introduced by Assembly Members Gonzalez and Kalra(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chu and Mark Stone)December 05, 2016 An act to add Section 559 to the Labor Code, relating to employers. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 5, as introduced, Gonzalez. Employers: Opportunity to Work Act.Existing law creates the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations for the purpose of enforcing labor laws. Existing law, with certain exceptions, establishes 8 hours as a days work and a 40-hour workweek, and requires payment of prescribed overtime compensation for additional hours worked.This bill would create the Opportunity to Work Act. The bill would require an employer with 10 or more employees to offer additional hours of work to an existing nonexempt employee before hiring an additional employee or subcontractor, except as specified, would require an employer to post a notice of employee rights, as specified, and would require the employer to maintain certain documentation. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint for violation of these provisions with the division and to, in the alternative, bring a civil action for remedies under the act. The bill would require the division to enforce these provisions, as specified and would authorize the division to, among other things, adopt rules and regulations. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty. The bill would also define various terms for these purposes.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 5
Introduced by Assembly Members Gonzalez and Kalra(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chu and Mark Stone)December 05, 2016
Introduced by Assembly Members Gonzalez and Kalra(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chu and Mark Stone)
December 05, 2016
An act to add Section 559 to the Labor Code, relating to employers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 5, as introduced, Gonzalez. Employers: Opportunity to Work Act.
Existing law creates the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations for the purpose of enforcing labor laws. Existing law, with certain exceptions, establishes 8 hours as a days work and a 40-hour workweek, and requires payment of prescribed overtime compensation for additional hours worked.This bill would create the Opportunity to Work Act. The bill would require an employer with 10 or more employees to offer additional hours of work to an existing nonexempt employee before hiring an additional employee or subcontractor, except as specified, would require an employer to post a notice of employee rights, as specified, and would require the employer to maintain certain documentation. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint for violation of these provisions with the division and to, in the alternative, bring a civil action for remedies under the act. The bill would require the division to enforce these provisions, as specified and would authorize the division to, among other things, adopt rules and regulations. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty. The bill would also define various terms for these purposes.
Existing law creates the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement in the Department of Industrial Relations for the purpose of enforcing labor laws. Existing law, with certain exceptions, establishes 8 hours as a days work and a 40-hour workweek, and requires payment of prescribed overtime compensation for additional hours worked.
This bill would create the Opportunity to Work Act. The bill would require an employer with 10 or more employees to offer additional hours of work to an existing nonexempt employee before hiring an additional employee or subcontractor, except as specified, would require an employer to post a notice of employee rights, as specified, and would require the employer to maintain certain documentation. The bill would authorize an employee to file a complaint for violation of these provisions with the division and to, in the alternative, bring a civil action for remedies under the act. The bill would require the division to enforce these provisions, as specified and would authorize the division to, among other things, adopt rules and regulations. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty. The bill would also define various terms for these purposes.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 559 is added to the Labor Code, to read:559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 559 is added to the Labor Code, to read:559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
SECTION 1. Section 559 is added to the Labor Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.(2) Work schedules of all employees.(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.
559. (a) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Opportunity to Work Act.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) Division shall mean the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
(2) Employee shall mean a nonexempt employee in this state.
(3) Employer shall mean any employer with 10 or more employees in this state.
(4) Retaliation shall mean any form of intimidation, threat, reprisal, harassment, discrimination, or adverse employment action, including discipline, discharge, suspension, transfer or assignment to a lesser position in terms of job classification, job security, or other condition of employment, reduction in pay or hours or denial of additional hours, informing another employer that the person has engaged in activities protected by this section, or reporting or threatening to report the actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status of an employee, former employee, or family member of an employee to a federal, state, or local agency because the employee or former employee exercises a right under this section.
(5) Shift shall mean the consecutive hours an employer requires an employee to work or to be on call to work. Breaks totaling two hours or less shall not be considered an interruption of consecutive hours.
(6) Work schedule shall mean all of an employees regular and on-call shifts, including specific start and end times for each shift during a consecutive seven-day period.
(c) An employer shall offer additional hours of work to an existing employee who, in the employers reasonable judgment, has the skills and experience to perform the work before hiring any additional employees or subcontractors, including hiring an additional employee or subcontractor through the use of a temporary employment agency, staffing agency, or similar entity. An employer shall use a transparent and nondiscriminatory process to distribute the additional hours of work among existing employees.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), an employer shall not be required to offer an employee additional work hours if the employer would be required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation under any law or under a collective bargaining agreement. This section shall not be construed to prohibit an employer from offering additional work hours to an employee that would result in the employer being required to compensate the employee with overtime compensation.
(e) An employer shall retain all of the following:
(1) For any new hire of an employee or subcontractor, documentation that the employer offered additional hours of work to existing employees prior to hiring the new employee or subcontractor.
(2) Work schedules of all employees.
(3) If applicable, the written statement of an employee pursuant to subdivision (k).
(4) Any other records or documents that the division requires the employer to maintain to demonstrate compliance with this section.
(f) The division shall enforce this section and may adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section. The division shall create and publish a posting notice that details employees rights under this section. An employer shall post the notice of employee rights under this section published by the division in a conspicuous place where it may be read by employees during work hours and in all places where notices to employees are posted physically and electronically.
(g) The division may issue guidelines to encourage employers to create training opportunities that permit employees to perform work for which the employer can be expected to have a need for additional hours of work.
(h) An employee may file a complaint for violation of this section with the division. Alternatively, an employee may bring a civil action for the remedies provided by this section in a court of competent jurisdiction. If the employee prevails, the court may award reasonable attorneys fees. Upon the filing of a complaint by an employee with the division, the Labor Commissioner shall enforce this section in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 79) of Division 1, including, but not limited to, Sections 92, 96.7, 98, and 98.1 to 98.8, inclusive.
(i) It shall be unlawful for an employer or any other party to discriminate in any manner or take adverse action against any employee in retaliation for exercising his or her rights under this section.
(j) To the extent required by federal law, all or any portion of the applicable requirements of this section may be waived in a bona fide collective bargaining agreement provided that such waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous terms.
(k) This section shall apply to welfare-to-work programs under which a person is required to perform work in exchange for receipt of benefits, except that a participant employee in such a program shall have the option to file a written statement with his or her employer opting out of the requirements of this section.
(l) A violation of this section shall not be punished as a misdemeanor pursuant to Section 553. A violation of this section shall be punished by a civil penalty as determined by the division.