4 Important Things To Know About The Captive Audience Ban in CA

Has your employer ever required that you attend a meeting in which they express their views on religion, politics, or unions? If so, you have been a captive audience.

Often used by employers when workers are thinking about creating a union, captive audience meetings are usually quite effective. However, many employers forced their workers to attend these meetings under threat of termination, retaliation, or other punishment – and this coercion made many workers too frightened to vote for unionization or too uncomfortable to express their personal views.

The good news is that the State of California has now banned mandatory “captive audience” meetings. Here’s what you need to know about this new ban.

4 Essentials about California’s Captive Audience Ban

1. California Worker Freedom From Employer Intimidation Act

Senate Bill (SB) 399 took effect on January 1, 2025, to become the California Worker Freedom from Employer Intimidation Act. Under the new act, if you refuse to attend or participate in these meetings, your employer can no longer:

• Fire you
• Discriminate against you
• Retaliate against you
• Or threaten to terminate, discriminate, or retaliate

2. There are serious penalties for violating the law

Employers that violate SB 399 can face significant penalties. Under the new act, employees who are forced to attend or participate in captive audience meetings can bring civil actions against their bosses. 

If found guilty, employers may face:

• Compensatory damages in which they must compensate the victim for their economic, emotional, or physical losses
• Punitive damages as punishment for their misconduct

3. Several Important Exceptions Exist

Employers are required to share certain information with their employees, for example.  This law does not prevent them from doing so. What’s more, it allows employers to share information that their employees need to do their jobs.

Certain Organizations Are Exempt:

• Religious organizations can communicate religious matters
• Political organizations can communicate with workers about their political beliefs or goals
• Educational organizations can incorporate political or religious information into their regular curriculum

The new law also allows organizations to schedule these meetings in ways that do not penalize employees who do not want to participate in them.

4. Other States Have Enacted Captive Audience Bans

Several other states, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, New York, Minnesota, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, have enacted similar bans.

Have You Been a Captive Audience in a Workplace Meeting? Has Your Boss Threatened to Fire or Punish You for Refusing to Go or Participate? Contact Your California Employment Attorney At D.Law!

Requiring you to attend or participate in an anti-union, religious, or political meeting against your will – and under threat of punishment – is just plain wrong, and now it is against the law in California. If you have been a captive audience at your workplace, you may be entitled to damages. Our employment lawyer in California is an area leader in employment law and workers’ rights and can help you get legal recourse for being a captive audience while working in the Bay Area, San Diego, Fresno, Los Angeles, and other CA cities.