Emergency Responder Leave Policy
(CA)

Summary

This template is an emergency responder leave policy that governs leave for employees in California who are volunteer firefighters, reserve peace officers, or emergency rescue personnel. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and optional clauses. This template is intended for private employers. Employers may include this policy in an employee handbook or distribute it as a standalone policy. Its language complies with California and federal law. California law requires private employers to provide emergency responder leave, but does not require that such leave time be paid. Generally, no federal laws explicitly require employers to provide employees time off from work to volunteer as emergency responders, except where the employee may otherwise be entitled to leave under another law. For a non-jurisdictional employee handbook, see Employee Handbook. For an employee handbook supplement for California employers containing customized workplace policies based on California state and local laws, see Employee Handbook Supplement (CA). For a full listing of key content that can be used by in-house counsel to develop, revise, and implement a company's employee and third-party-related policies, see In-House Company Policies Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering leaves for employees, see Leaves for Employees Resource Kit. For a full listing of key content covering leaves for employees in California, see Leaves for Employees Resource Kit (CA). For a full listing of key content covering employee handbook considerations, see Employee Handbook Resource Kit. For information on emergency responder leave in California, see Leave Law (CA) — Disaster Relief Volunteer Leave. For information on state laws concerning emergency responder or disaster relief volunteer leave, see the Other Leaves column of the Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Practice Notes Chart. For additional annotated leave templates, see Attendance, Leaves, and Disabilities State Expert Forms Chart. For tracking of recent leave laws in California and other key federal, state, and local Labor & Employment legal developments, see Labor & Employment Key Legal Developments Tracker (Current).