California Passes Bill That Requires Businesses to Rehire Laid-off Workers
After California Governor Gavin Newsom allowed the reopening of additional businesses as cases of coronavirus in the state declined, California legislature passed a bill on Thursday which requires hotels, stadiums, and other hospitality companies to offer back jobs to their laid-off workers.
Based on the bill passed by legislatures, hospitality companies were some of the hardest hit by the lockdown restriction imposed by the state. It prohibits fans in stadiums, no travelers to stay in hotels, and airports that need a lesser number of workers.
According to KTLA, the California Governor has been relaxing COVID-19 restrictions as more individuals are getting inoculated. Newsom also cited that new cases of coronavirus declined. If things will continue to improve, on June 15, the California governor will be lifting all the imposed restrictions.
Businesses Ease Back to Normal Operations
While companies are preparing to go back to their normal operations, Democrats who control the legislation in the state stated that they want to ensure that individuals who were laid-off in their work should be prioritized to get their jobs back. Also, the bill will be requiring all of the hospitality companies to give the schedule to their former employees as to when their jobs or positions will be available after the economic crisis.
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Moreover, the bill also gives the former employees enough time to decide whether they want to come back on the position. Democrats stated that the bill is protection for workers in the state.
In addition, a Democrat from Berkeley, California Senator Nancy Skinner also mentioned that women lost more jobs and left the workforce in greater numbers compared to men during the coronavirus pandemic. Skinner said that legislatures passed a bill that is very important especially for women to get back in their previous workplace.
On the other hand, the legislature in the state passed a similar bill last year. However, it was vetoed by the California Governor. Newsom supported his decision by saying that it was too broad and it would put too much of a burden on struggling businesses. But Newsom's mind changed after lawmakers made adjustments this year to push the bill, CBS Los Angeles reported.
However, the bill only protects workers who had their jobs at least six months prior and laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, workers who were laid-off cannot file lawsuits in order to enforce the law. The bill is only temporary and is set to expire on December 31, 2024, unless California lawmakers will agree to its extension.
Despite not giving out a statement that he will sign the bill into law, the office of the governor still is part of the negotiations. The participation was confirmed by lawmakers as they used the budget process to pass the bill.
The bill also applies to hotels with 50 or more rooms only, and event centers which include arenas, stadiums, convention centers, and racetracks that have at least an area of 4,645 square meters or 50,000 square feet with at least 1,000 seats used for public performances, games, and meetings, US News reported.
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WATCH: New California Bill Seeks To Get Laid-Off Hospitality Employees Back To Work - CBS Los Angeles
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