Beginning February 1, 2026, California employers must provide existing employees and new hires with an annual written notification of certain employee rights. California frequently acts as a bellwether for pro-employee legislation, with other states often using its legislative efforts as a model for similar proposals.

In addition to workers’ compensation and unionization rights, the California notice must advise workers of their rights to notification of immigration agency inspections of the workplace, state law protections against adverse action by employers based on unfair immigration practices, and employees’ ability to exercise Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights in the event of interactions with law enforcement at work.

The California labor agency will develop a list of changes in law affecting employees in the past year, which must be included in the annual notices. In addition to the notices, California employers must give employees an opportunity by March 30 to designate an emergency contact if they are detained or arrested at work. The immigration portions of the new law were passed in response to federal ICE enforcement activities within the state over the last year. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in fines of up to $10,000.

For more information, please contact me or your regular Parker Poe contact. Click here to subscribe to our latest alerts and insights.