Labor & Employment Law

Three Family Leave Bills Vetoed By Governor

California employers should breath a sigh of relief as Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed three bills that provided for expanded leave rights under California law. 

Two of the bills vetoed by the Governor - AB537 and SB727 - proposed to expanded both the unpaid and paid leave programs to include care for a sibling, mother- or father-in-law, grandparent or grandchild.

The third bill vetoed, SB836 (previously discussed here), would have prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of family responsibilities such as caring for a sick relative.

Schwarzenegger said the bills would have increased confusion about leave requirements, confusion that already results in many lawsuits:

California has the strongest employment leave and workplace protection laws in the country...While these laws have been enacted with the best of intentions, they have also caused much confusion.... Instead of expanding the confusing network of laws that presently exist, employers and employees should be working together to eliminate confusion and create a system of workplace laws that ... offers both employers and employees flexibility to meet their respective needs.

Full post as published by California Labor & Employment Defense Blog on October 16, 2007 (boomark / email).