On January 1, 2025, an expanded and revised version of California’s victims’ leave and accommodation requirements took effect. To recap, the revised law broadened the definition of victim as an individual who suffers a “qualifying act of violence.” The qualifying acts of violence covered under the previous law include domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The new law now also includes any of the following acts in which an individual:
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Exhibits, draws, brandishes, or uses a firearm or other dangerous weapon with respect to another individual
As of July 1, 2025, employers must provide the new notice, Survivors of Violence and Family Members of Victims Right to Leave and Accommodations, recently published by the California Civil Rights Department. They must provide it:
The notice includes information regarding an employee’s right to take time off, right to confidentiality, right to reasonable accommodation for safety, right to be free from retaliation and discrimination, and other protections that may be available. It also includes information regarding leave obligations for employers with more than 25 employees. The notice is also available in over a dozen other languages.
As with most leave and/or accommodation requirements in California, keep in mind that leave under this law may implicate other California laws as well.
If you would like to have your Leave for Qualifying Acts of Violence policy reviewed by our California Legal Services team, please contact us at CAinfo@employerscouncil.org.
Mary Miller is an attorney for Employers Council.