Recent Amendments Expand Protections for Crime Victim Leave and Clarify Mandated Exhaustion of Vacation for Paid Family Leave

Two new laws effective January 1, 2025, reshaped small-employer leave duties.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2499 expanded protected leave when an employee or family member is the victim of certain crimes. Denying or retaliating against such leave is treated as unlawful under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), creating discrimination liability.

AB 2123 ends the long-standing rule that employees must exhaust vacation before accessing Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. Employers must now allow PFL to run independently.

Both laws require immediate policy updates and manager training. Even unintentional violations pose risk, especially for small employers with limited HR support or inconsistent leave records.

Why highlight this now? Small employers often notice new laws only after guidance or enforcement, hence this August reminder.