Employee Discipline: California

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Jennifer K. Achtert, Fisher Phillips

Summary

• California has specific requirements and limitations with regard to employee discipline and related investigations. See Investigating Employee Behavior.
• California has strict harassment and discrimination laws. See Investigating Employee Behavior.
• California laws list heightened requirements for the protection of employee privacy. See Investigating Employee Behavior.
• California law imposes severe limitations on the use of polygraph or lie detector tests. See Investigating Employee Behavior.
• California laws contain numerous protections for whistleblowers. See The Process of Discipline; Discipline of Employees Who Have Engaged in Protected Activities.
• California boasts unique leave of absence laws. See The Process of Discipline; Discipline of Employees Who Have Engaged in Protected Activities.
• Employers face strict restrictions on "self help" when faced with employee theft. See Specific Discipline Situations: Workplace Theft.
• California law bans workplace smoking and e-cigarette use. See E-Cigarette Use and Smoking.
• Localities including Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco have requirements pertaining to employee discipline. See Local Requirements.