Employers can no longer require California worker disputes to be governed by other state laws
A new California law bars generally employers from requiring worker complaints to be governed by the laws of other states.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill Sunday, the Recorder (sub. req.) reports. The bill generally voids employee contract provisions that say the laws of other states apply to disputes, and it also bars companies from requiring out-of-state arbitration.
The law does not bar choice-of-law provisions when the employee is represented by legal counsel and negotiates the employment contract, the article reports.
Altshuler Berzon employment lawyer Michael Rubin told the Recorder that California has stronger worker protections than many other states, and its courts are skeptical of arbitration agreements that they find are unfairly forced on workers.
