ARTICLE
16 October 2024

It's Already That Time Of Year?

FL
Foley & Lardner

Contributor

Foley & Lardner LLP looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and their industries. With over 1,100 lawyers in 24 offices across the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia, Foley approaches client service by first understanding our clients’ priorities, objectives and challenges. We work hard to understand our clients’ issues and forge long-term relationships with them to help achieve successful outcomes and solve their legal issues through practical business advice and cutting-edge legal insight. Our clients view us as trusted business advisors because we understand that great legal service is only valuable if it is relevant, practical and beneficial to their businesses.
Along with pumpkins, costumes, and a chill in the air, the autumn season means it's time to think about updating those handbooks and personnel policies! 2024 brought many new laws...
United States California Employment and HR

Along with pumpkins, costumes, and a chill in the air, the autumn season means it's time to think about updating those handbooks and personnel policies! 2024 brought many new laws that warrant handbook updates, particularly in typically employment legislation-heavy states like California.

While a detailed review and update to handbooks should be done annually, it is especially important to focus on updates in the law as to the following categories:

  • Leaves of absence
  • Paid time off
  • Protected employment categories
  • Wage and hour
  • Benefits
  • Workplace Accommodations

We note in particular that there are a number of state laws requiring written acknowledgement of certain policies by employees (for example, harassment complaint and investigation procedures). When reviewing a handbook, it is therefore important to ensure that the document includes such legally required notices where applicable.

Beyond a purely legal review, this also is a good time to make sure the company's handbook accurately reflects the company's practices. While practices change over time, written policies don't always keep up with those changes. In reviewing policies, a company should ask itself: is this really how we do things currently, or is this policy dated? Does this policy reflect the current day-to-day reality of the workplace? Reviewing the handbook with an eye towards practical application in addition to baseline legal requirements is essential to maintaining an up-to-date document that reflects the company's operations.

Distributing the updated handbook or policies to employees and ensuring they have the opportunity to review (and ideally attest to having done so) is the final and important step in this process. Employees should be informed of handbook updates and should always have access to the most current handbook or policies.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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