California enacts worker retention law

[Sherman A1]

http://supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/california-enacts-worker-retention-law

A new law requiring supermarkets to retain employees after a change in ownership has been signed into law by California Gov. Jerry Brown — ostensibly the first statewide worker retention law covering private-sector employees in the U.S.

The legislation, signed Monday, will take effect Jan. 1, 2016. It protects employees at stores of at least 15,000 square feet from being fired during a 90-day transition period after the store has been sold; following the transition, the new employer must provide a written performance evaluation and, if the evaluation is satisfactory, must consider an offer of continued employment, while retaining the right to terminate an employee for cause at any time during or after the transition period.

It potentially covers nearly 384,000 supermarket employees.

Several California cities have previously adopted similar local ordinances, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Alameda and Gardena. The state also has a law providing protection for janitorial maintenance employees during a change of contractors at worksites.

[JDPriestly]

1. K&R.