Business groups have challenged a new California that bars employers from retaliatory actions against employees that refuse to attend so-called "captive audience meetings" on politics and religion in the workplace. Adobe Stock image

A new California law pertaining to captive audience meetings in the workplace has drawn the attention of several prominent groups gearing up for a legal battle in 2025.

The California Chamber of Commerce and the California Restaurant Association have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new law, Senate Bill 399, that aims to ban retaliation over worker attendance of “captive audience” meetings.

The bill, which took effect on New Year’s Day, prohibits employers from retaliatory actions against employees who refuse to attend meetings that speak about company management opinions on political or religious matters.

The law also places new restrictions on communications regarding these issues between employees and their employers.

The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court on Dec. 31, 2024, claims the law violates the First and 14th Amendments on the U.S. Constitution, and asked the courts to block the law from going into effect.

“Employers have the right to express their views and opinions on many issues,” said Jot Condie, California Restaurant Association president and CEO. “SB 399 creates restrictions that are unworkable and the unintended consequences of this new law outweigh any perceived benefit.”

Ashley Hoffman, a former employment attorney and senior policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, said that the bill is written in a way that restricts what businesses are able to talk freely about without fearing litigation.

California Labor Federation Chief Officer Lorena Gonzalez said last Thursday that the office anticipated the lawsuit, adding that threats of litigation were levied during the legislative process in 2024.

The bill was introduced with the goal of removing undue or unwanted employer influence on employees without fear of coercion or workplace consequences.

The author of SB 399, state Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley), said it’s about fairness and equity.

“We live in highly polarized times where political discussions occur more frequently in the workplace,” Wahab said in a statement. “This bill ensures employees can focus on their work without coercion, creating a fairer and more respectful environment.”