Resources for California Women in the Workforce
This page provides links to resources available through the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), as well as other resources relevant to women working in the State of California.
This guide is modeled after the web page listing resources for women in the workforce on the Department of Labor (DOL) website. We encourage you to visit that page and the DOL's Women's Bureau for additional helpful information.
Workplace Health and Safety
- How to file a workplace safety complaint
- Cal/OSHA Guidelines for Workplace Security
- Promoting Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (IIPPs) for California's school employees
- Your right to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment
Fair Wages
- California Equal Pay Act
- Laws that prohibit retaliation and discrimination
- Learn about your right to fair pay for equal work with the same employer (see #33 in list).
- Equal Employment Opportunity - Workplace posting
- Report on women's earnings in CA - 2013 data (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Workers' Compensation Coverage
- What to do if you are injured at work
- 2011 CHSWC paper examining differences in occupational injury and illness
Apprenticeship Resources
- Labor Code 1777.5, f - Guarantees equal employment and affirmative action in apprenticeship for women and minorities
- Tradeswomen, Inc. - One of California's first organizations for women in the trades
- WINTER (Women in Non Traditional Employment Roles) - Serving women and youth in Southern California
- NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction)
Resources for Families
- Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 (AB 1522) - Provides paid sick leave to employees who previously had none; DIR site with summary of the law and amendments, as well as resources for employers
- California Family Rights Act (CFRA) - Ensures secure leave rights for the following:
- Birth of a child for purposes of bonding
- Placement of a child in the employee's family for adoption or foster care
- Caring for the employee's child, parent, or spouse who has a serious health condition
- The employee's own serious health condition
- Your rights and obligations as a pregnant employee - For employers of 5–49 employees
En español, Sus derechos y obligaciones como empleada embarazada - Para empleadores que tienen entre 5 y 49 empleados - Family Care and Medical Leave and Pregnancy Disability Leave - For employers with 50 or more employees and all public agencies
En español, Ausencia médica o por cuidados familiares (Ausencia CFRA, por sus siglas en inglés) y ausencia de incapacidad por embarazo - Para empleadores que tienen 50 empleados o más de 50 empleados - Certification of Health Care Provider for Pregnancy Disability Leave, Transfer, and/or Reasonable Accommodation
- Information on minors and employment - Labor Commissioner's Office page with resources relating to the employment of minors
- Child Performer Services Permit - For the protection of minors in the entertainment industry
Other California Laws and Regulations of Interest to Working Women
- Foreign labor contractors (SB 477) - Addresses the illegal trafficking of foreign workers. Learn more ...
- Sexual Harassment training for farm workers (SB 1087) - Requires training for supervisors and contractors in identifying and preventing sexual harassment of farm labor workers. Learn more ...
- Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (AB 241) - Provides overtime pay to personal attendants previously excluded from overtime. Learn more ...
February 2022