California is set to introduce new legislation that will present another obstacle for the restaurant industry, starting from January 1, 2024. According to this impending law, employers in Californian restaurants will now be responsible for covering all costs that their workers incur while obtaining a food handler card. They are also expected to treat the time spent on this certification as working hours. By placing these additional financial obligations on restaurant owners, the law aims to alleviate some of the burdens shouldered by restaurant employees.
That’s not all the law entails. It also stipulates that employers should relieve their employees of all duties during the time needed to complete this training. A significant change that could disrupt current hiring practices is the provision that prohibits employers from requiring applicants to possess an existing food handler card as a condition of employment. You can read more about this forthcoming legislation here.
This move by California presents yet another challenge for the restaurant industry, already grappling with the repercussions of COVID-19 and subsequent regulations. Yet, it represents a significant development for workers in the industry, who often face substantial out-of-pocket expenses to secure certifications necessary for their roles. The law’s approach to the time spent obtaining these certifications as hours worked reflects a growing acknowledgment of the ‘learning on the job’ aspect inherent in many service roles.
Whether these changes will lead to an industry-wide shift in hiring and training practices, or whether they will add to the existing challenges faced by restaurant owners, remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: this law marks a notable evolution in the regulatory landscape for the food and beverage industry, particularly in California.