New laws passed in 2017, effective in 2018

California Governor Jerry Brown signed several significant employment bills that passed in 2017 and effective on Jan 1, 2018. Many businesses in the state will need to update their policies and practices accordingly. Here are the top five new state laws that HR professionals should start preparing for now.

1. A.B. 168: Salary history inquiries. Employers will no longer be able to ask job applicantsabout their current or prior earnings. Employers will also have to provide the pay scale for a position upon an applicant's request.

2. A.B. 450: Immigration enforcement. Employers will have to demand warrants and subpoenas from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents before any enforcement activities and will have to provide certain notices to employees and their union representatives.

3. A.B. 1008: Ban the box. Employers with at least five employees won't be allowed to consider a job applicant's criminal history until a conditional employment offer is made. If the employer decides to deny employment based on an applicant's criminal history, the employer must follow certain steps before making a final decision.

4. S.B. 63: New parent leave. Small businesses with 20-49 employees will have to provide 12 weeks of job-protected baby bonding leave within the first year following a child's birth, adoption or foster care placement.

5. S.B. 396: Gender identity and sexual orientation harassment training. Sexual harassment training is already required for employers with 50 or more employees. That will soon need to include training on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation harassment. Employers will also need to post a transgender rights notice in the workplace.