California Handbook Templates Now Offered as a State Supplement
Author: Brightmine Editorial Team
To help align our coverage of California law with all other jurisdictions covered in the Handbook Templates resource, California-specific templates are now covered within a California Supplement to the National Handbook instead of in a separate California Handbook. The California Supplement is designed to be provided to California employees along with the National Handbook.
We initially offered California-specific templates in a separate handbook due to the state's more complicated legal landscape. However, several other states have now become equally as complex for employers to maintain compliance.
As a result, Brightmine has switched to a supplement-style approach for California, making it consistent with every other state. The California Supplement is now available in the State Supplements section of the Handbook Templates page.
Since California-specific templates are now provided as a supplement to our National Handbook, we have added an About This California Supplement template. In addition, the following California handbook templates have been updated and streamlined to include only California law, with federal law references removed:
- Harassment and Retaliation Prevention [1-4 Employees]
- Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Prevention [5+ Employees]
- Disability Accommodation
- Religious Accommodation
- Military Leave
- Family and Medical Leave [5-49 Employees]
- Family and Medical Leave [50+ Employees]
- Pregnancy and Pregnancy-Related Disabilities Leave and Accommodation
- Vacation
- Overtime
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program (formerly Health and Safety)
Additionally, the following handbook templates that were not based on a state-specific legal consideration have been removed from the California Table of Contents but remain available to our users in our National Handbook and can be customized for your needs:
- Purpose of Employee Handbook
- Employment At-Will
- Employee Classifications
- Employment Eligibility and Work Authorization
- Romantic and Family Relationships at Work
- Background Checks
- Reference Checks
- Confidential Company Information
- Reporting and Anti-Retaliation Policy
- Personal Appearance and Grooming
- Attendance and Punctuality
- Personal Electronic Devices
- Personal Calls
- Time Off and Leaves of Absence
- Holidays
- Floating Holidays
- Personal Leave
- Bereavement Leave [1-4 Employees]
- Business Travel and Reimbursement
- Performance Reviews
- Payment of Wages
- Work Schedules
- On-Call Pay
- Benefits Overview
- Medical and Dental Insurance
- Same-Sex Marriages and Domestic Partnerships
- Disability Benefits
- Employee Referral Program
- Anti-Violence
- Anti-Bullying
- Work-Related Injuries or Illnesses
- Emergency Evacuations
- Use of Company Equipment and Resources
- Driving for Company Business
- Inclement Weather/Office Closing
- No Solicitation/Distribution of Literature
- Workers' Compensation
- Weapons in the Workplace
- Drug-Free Workplace
- Separation from Employment
- Return of Company Property
- Exit Interviews
- Acknowledgment and Receipt
To begin using the California Supplement along with the National Handbook, you may wish to download and customize the new About This California Supplement template and update your California policies based on these changes.
We hope we have made it easier than ever to navigate and review California-specific templates and create and customize your employee handbook.
As always, your feedback is welcome by emailing feedback@brightmine.com.