Gov. Newsom Signs Legislation Protecting Workers From Forced Political and Religious Messaging

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation prohibiting employers from taking adverse actions against workers who refuse to attend meetings or receive communications regarding religious or political matters, including union-related topics.

How SB 399 protects workers

SB 399 by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley) prevents employers from disciplining, discriminating against, or discharging employees for refusing to participate in employer-sponsored meetings or communications on religious or political matters that are not related to their job duties. This includes discussions on unionization, protecting workers from anti-union rhetoric that employers may attempt to impose in mandatory settings.

Employers remain free to express their views, but this law ensures that employees cannot be forced to listen.

“SB 399 is vital to shielding employees from retaliation for opting out of captive audience meetings unrelated to their jobs,” said Dr. Wahab. “With my small business background, I ensured the bill strikes a balance, protecting both employers and employees.”

Several states, including Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, have enacted similar laws, underscoring growing national support for these employee rights in the workplace.

Here’s what California labor leaders said about this announcement: 

• “Captive audience meetings are routinely used to frighten workers and discourage unionization. We applaud Senator Wahab and Governor Newsom for ensuring that California workers are free from this kind of abuse and free to join a union.” – Peter Finn, President of Teamsters Joint Council 7
• “For far too long, employers have used the power they have over workers to hold them hostage in meetings aimed at imposing political, religious, or even anti-union views that don’t align with workers’ beliefs. SEIU members thank Governor Newsom for standing up against coercion in the workplace and Senator Wahab for championing this necessary worker protection.” – Tia Orr, Executive Director of SEIU California
• “This is a huge win for workers in California. Every worker should be able to do their job without being forced to participate in meetings about their employer’s political or religious views.” – Amber Parrish, Executive Director of the United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council
• “Everyone deserves freedom from intimidation at work. No one should lose their job because they refused to listen to their bosses’ views on politics or religion. No one should be forced against their will to attend captive audience meetings where their bosses threaten and coerce them out of reporting labor violations, or exercising their right to join a union.” – Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO