California Labor Commissioner Model Whistleblower Protection Notice Available to Employers

California law prohibits employers from making, adopting, or enforcing a policy that prevents an employee from disclosing violations of a state or federal statute, or a violation or noncompliance with a local, state, or federal regulation, to a government or law enforcement agency, among others, and further prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee who makes a disclosure.

To ensure employees are aware of this, employers are required to prominently display a list of employees’ rights and responsibilities as delineated for by California’s whistleblower laws. The notice must be displayed in text larger than size 14-point type and must include the telephone number of the state’s whistleblower hotline (1-800-952-5225).

Although employers are permitted to post their own notice that meets the required elements, the Legislature directed the California Labor Commissioner to develop a model notice setting forth employees’ rights and responsibilities under the whistleblower laws and affirmed that an employer’s use of that model notice will be deemed compliant with these obligations.

As 2024 came to an end, the Labor Commissioner published the model notice, which can be found here. To satisfy the 14-point type requirement, model notice must be printed to 8.5 x 14-inch paper with margins no larger than one-half inch.

This legal update and any use of its information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Nothing contained on this website should be considered legal advice for any specific employer or employment situation. Consult legal counsel before taking any action as a result of information contained herein.