Civil actions: protective orders: workplace violence.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the consequences if an employer fails to follow requirements or how small businesses will be affected.

Workplace Violence Protection

This law allows employers to request protective orders for all employees if there is a credible threat of violence at the workplace.

What This Bill Does

• Allows an employer to seek a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of all employees if there's a credible threat of violence directed at the workplace or location where employees perform their primary job duties.
• Doesn't require naming specific employees when requesting protection.
• Requires the Judicial Council to update its forms related to these orders by January 1, 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

• Employers who want to protect their workers from workplace violence.
• Employees at workplaces where there is a credible threat of violence.
• The Judicial Council which must update its forms for protective orders.

Terms To Know

Workplace Violence Restraining Order

A court order that protects employees from harassment, threats, or violent acts at work.

Credible Threat of Violence

A serious warning or indication that someone might cause harm to others.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if an employer fails to follow the requirements.
• It is unclear how this will affect small businesses with fewer employees.
• There are no details on how the Judicial Council will update its forms.

Official Summary Text

AB 1961, as amended, Ahrens.
Civil actions: protective orders: workplace violence.
Existing law authorizes an employer or collective bargaining representative of an employee who has suffered harassment, unlawful violence, or a credible threat of violence from any individual, to seek a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of the employee and, at the discretion of the court, any number of other employees at the workplace or at other workplaces of the employer. Existing law authorizes one or more representative parties to bring suit for the benefit of a class of parties if the question is one of a common or general interest, of many persons, or when the parties are numerous, and it is impracticable to bring them all before the court.
Beginning on July 1, 2027, this
This
bill would authorize an employer to seek a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of
a reasonably identifiable group of employees
all employees at the employer’s workplace or a location at which a group of employees perform their primary job duties
if
harassment, unlawful violence or
a credible threat of violence is
generally
directed at
the employer’s workplace or at a group of the employer’s employees, as specified.
that workplace or
location.
The bill would not require an employer to name any individual employee as a protected party if the employer seeks a workplace violence restraining order on behalf of
a group of employees.
all employees at the employer’s workplace or a location at which a group of employees perform their primary job duties.
This bill would require the Judicial
Council
Council, on or before January 1, 2028,
to
update
adopt or modify
its forms, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF