If you have worked in California since at least February 1, 2026, your employer was required to hand you something new this year – a written notice outlining some of your most important workplace rights. It’s called the “Know Your Rights” notice, and it’s now a permanent feature of California employment law. Below we will outline what the notice is, what’s in it, and why it matters.
What Is the Know Your Rights Notice?
On October 12, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 294 into law, creating the Workplace Know Your Rights Act. As of February 1, 2026, every California employer is required to send workers a written notice of their rights annually. This isn’t just a poster on a breakroom wall. This is required to be a separate, stand-alone document, delivered every year.
The written notice must be provided to all workers (regardless of immigration status) through email, text message, or in person, in languages normally used at the workplace.
What Does the Notice Cover?
The notice summarizes rights that California workers already have – but many employees may not know about:
- Retaliation protections – It is illegal for your employer to fire you, cut your hours, threaten you, or otherwise take adverse employment actions against you because you filed a complaint with a government agency, asked about your employer’s compliance with applicable laws, or helped a coworker exercise their rights.
- Immigration-related protections – Your employer cannot weaponize your immigration status. If they receive notice of an upcoming I-9 inspection,they are required to notify you of the inspection within 72 hours of receiving that notice. They also can’t threaten to report you to immigration because you spoke up about a workplace issue.
- Union and concerted activity rights – Most California workers have the right to organize, join a union, and act collectively with coworkers to address wages, hours, health and safety, and other working conditions – without fear of interference or retaliation from their employer.
- Constitutional rights during law enforcement interactions – If law enforcement shows up at your job, you have constitutional rights – including but not limited to Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, and Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. These don’t disappear because you’re on the clock. In most cases, law enforcement cannot enter non-public areas like breakrooms and workspaces without a judge-signed warrant and, in those cases,our employer cannot let them in voluntarily. Remember that you have the right to remain silent.
- Workers’ compensation – If you are injured or become ill because of your job, you are entitled to medical care and wage replacement benefits, regardless of your immigration status.
The Emergency Contact Requirement
The Workplace Know Your Rights Act also introduced something new around workplace arrests and detentions. By March 30, 2026, California employers must allow their employees to name an emergency contact who the employer will notify if the employee is arrested or detained at work. Employers must keep records of compliance for three years.
What Happens If an Employer Doesn’t Comply?
There are real consequences for employers who don’t comply with this new law. Employers may be subject to penalties of up to $500 per employee for violations of the annual notice requirement. Penalties for failing to notify a designated emergency contact can reach $10,000 per employee.
What This Means for Workers
The Know Your Rights Act doesn’t create new rights – it ensures workers actually know about the ones they already have. If your employer has not provided this notice, or if you believe your rights have been violated, speaking with an employment attorney is a smart next step. California workers have strong protections, and understanding them is the first step to enforcing them.
Sources
- California Department of Industrial Relations – Workplace Know Your Rights Act
- California Labor Commissioner’s Office – SB 294 Know Your Rights Notice Template
- California Legislative Information – Senate Bill 294
- California Workplace – Know Your Rights