Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees who file a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner.  See Labor Code § 98.6.  Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against employees who report employer violations of state, federal, and local regulations (Labor Code § 1102.5) or employer violations of occupational health and safety regulations (Labor Code § 6310). AB 1509 now protects family members of employees who engage in these lawful activities. 

This new protection is essential to protect spouses who may work for the same employer. If one spouse decides to file a complaint regarding employer violations, the other spouse is protected from employer retaliation specifically aimed towards them. To review the bill in its entirety, please visit the California Legislative Information website.