A new state law requires that employers act to protect employees.
Churches and nonprofit organizations are familiar with the threat of violence breaking out during worship services or public events. A new California law, however, requires them to look at violence through the lens of the workplace. Senate Bill 553, signed into law Sept. 30, 2023, mandates businesses, churches and other nonprofits comply by July 1, 2024. While these organizations aren’t typically thought of as workplaces, they are places of employment subject to labor laws. Therefore, they need to pay careful attention to SB 553, which makes employers responsible for protecting employees from workplace violence. This mandate requires churches and nonprofits to take actions including:
Creating a plan to prevent and respond to workplace violence.
Identifying people responsible for implementing the plan (including training, education and assigning roles). It must be reviewed annually.
Maintaining a record of violent incidents along with incident investigation records.
Educating employees about who to contact during a workplace violence emergency.
In addition to employees, the law also applies to volunteers, members of a board of directors and contractors who work onsite. With the deadline for compliance arriving so soon, churches and nonprofits will benefit from getting practical insights from this free webinar on SB 553.
OUR EXPERT
Our Expert
Ryan Abernethy is a shareholder at Weintraub Tobin and a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment and Litigation practice groups. He successfully represents businesses in a broad range of employment litigation matters in California, including the defense of claims involving workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour issues, trade secrets, and class actions. He also regularly counsels clients regarding compliance, risk management, policy preparation, and employee training, and works to achieve positive results for his clients through arbitration, administrative proceedings, and — when possible — negotiating favorable settlements for his clients.