Workplace Protections

Under California state law, you may be protected under this law if you or a family member is a victim of a “qualifying act of violence,” which is defined as:

• domestic violence;
• sexual assault under state, federal, or tribal law;
• stalking;
• an act that caused physical injury or death;
• someone using or waving (brandishing) a firearm or other dangerous weapon;
• someone using force, or threatening to use force, that results in physical injury or death.¹

For the purposes of this law, a “family member” means:

• a child, which includes a biological child, adopted child, foster child, step-child, legal ward, child of your domestic partner, or a child for whom you stand “in loco parentis;”
• a parent, which includes a biological parent, foster parent, adoptive parent,  parent-in-law, step-parent, legal guardian, or other person who stood “in loco parentis” to you when you were a child;
• a grandparent or grandchild;
• a spouse or domestic partner;
• a sibling, whether biological, adopted, step-sibling, or half-sibling; or
• anyone else related to you by blood or whose relationship with you is the equivalent of a family relationship.²

¹ Cal. Gov. Code § 12945.8(a)(3), (j)(5), (j)(8)(A)
² Cal. Gov. Code §§ 12945.8(j)(4); 12945.2(b)(1), (b)(11), (b)(14)