San Francisco Protects Caregiver Employees

Author: Annie Smiddy

The City of San Francisco has recognized the need for protections for caregiver employees, and in particular working parents, by enacting two ordinances providing employees the right to request flexible working schedules and paid family leave for bonding time with a new child. The changes to demographics of the modern workplace have resulted in: (1) more flexible work arrangements regarding the time or place where work is conducted, and (2) more mothers and fathers wanting time to bond with their new children. However, many employees are concerned about requesting flexible work arrangements, or taking time off after the birth of a new child, due to the stigma associated with these additional family responsibilities. These protections extend to employees who have caregiving responsibilities, such as pregnant women, mothers and fathers of young children, and employees with aging parents.

Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance
In 2013 (operative January 1, 2014), the Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance (“FFWO”) was enacted to provide employees the protected right to request a flexible work schedule. The FFWO states that caregiver status is a protected class, and places notice and record keeping requirements on covered employers. The FFWO prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee who attempts to exercise of rights under the ordinance, or makes a claim or complaint pursuant to the ordinance. The Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement (“OLSE”) is authorized to investigate possible violations of the FFWO, and the agency will impose an administrative penalty up to $50.00 requiring the employer to pay to each employee or person whose rights under the ordinance were violated for each day or portion thereof that the violation occurred or continued. In addition, the City may bring a civil action for reinstatement; back pay; the payment of benefits or pay unlawfully withheld; the payment of an additional sum as liquidated damages in the amount of $50.00 to each employee or person whose rights were violated for each day such violation continued or was permitted to continue; appropriate injunctive relief; and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

Paid Parental Leave for Bonding with New Child Ordinance
In 2016, the City further expanded protections for parents by enacting the Paid Parental Leave for Bonding with New Child Ordinance (“PPLO”), which requires employers who have employees working in San Francisco to provide Supplemental Compensation to employees who are receiving California Paid Family Leave benefits to bond with a new child, so that the employees receive up to 100% of their normal weekly wages during 6 weeks of parental leave. The PPLO takes effect on January 1, 2017 for San Francisco employers with 50 or more employees; on July 1, 2017 for employers with 35 or more employees; and on January 1, 2018 for employers with 20 or more employees. The ordinance places notice, posting and record keeping requirements on employers. The ordinance prohibits against retaliation for an employee’s exercise of rights provided by the ordinance. The OLSE may investigate any possible violations of the ordinance by an employer and bring an administrative enforcement or a civil action against an employer. In addition, the City may bring a civil action in court against an employer for violations of the ordinance. A person or entity may also bring a civil action against an employer after he/she/it provides the OLSE and the City Attorney with written notice and more than 90 days have passed without the City Attorney filing suit or the OLSE providing notice of its intent to bring an administrative enforcement action or a determination that no violation has occurred. The employee may be entitled to reinstatement; backpay; payment of any Supplemental Compensation unlawfully withheld or the amount of Supplemental Compensation unlawfully withheld from the employee multiplied by three, or $250.00, whichever is greater; $50.00 for each employee or person whose rights were violated for each day that violation occurred; injunctive relief; attorneys’ fees and costs.

In sum, San Francisco has expanded protections for employees with greater caregiving responsibilities. If you would like to hear more about these ordinances, Ad Astra Law Group LLP is available to help.
For a link to the text of the ordinances, as well as FAQs, please visit the following websites:

FFWO – http://sfgov.org/olse/family-friendly-workplace-ordinance-ffwo
PPLO – http://sfgov.org/olse/paid-parental-leave-ordinance