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Gordie Webster

published on March 25, 2022 - 1:38 PM
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The California Chamber of Commerce has identified a new job killer bill that could hamper emergency response and workplace safety.

SB 1044 by Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), allows employees to leave work or refuse to show up if the employee subjectively feels unsafe, regardless of existing health and safety standards or whether the employers has provided health and safety protections.

Employers could be subjected to costly Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits if they dispute the employee’s decision or need to have another employee take over job duties, according to the CalChamber.

The bill passed out of the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee on Monday.

In a letter to the bill’s author, the CalChamber pointed out that SB 1044 allows essential workers to skip shifts without prior permission or planning, which can jeopardize public safety. It also doesn’t require workers to consider the safety of others in their workplace.

One of the concerns — SB 1044 contains no exceptions for essential services such as health care workers, police or firefighters. It also broadly defines the term “state of emergency” It also gives broad discretion for employees to walk away from a completely safe workplace, with the employer have little recourse without risking litigation.

SB 1044 is just one of a number of business-unfriendly bills coming out of Sacramento. It penalizes the businesses that worked to provide the tax surplus that legislators are so eager to spend. It should be stopped.


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