THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- California will require covered employers to add anti-hate speech instruction to existing workplace harassment training beginning in 2028.
- Christian organizations warn that the measure could create conflicts involving religious beliefs about marriage, sexuality and gender.
- The law contains no express exemption for churches, although its exact application to particular religious employers remains a legal question.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
California has discovered another subject that apparently requires government-approved instruction: What people are allowed to say at work.
And some Christian organizations are looking at the state’s latest training requirement and wondering whether Sacramento intends to become their theology instructor, too.
Assembly Bill 1803, signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, requires employers covered by California’s existing harassment-prevention training law to include instruction on recognizing, reporting and confronting workplace speech targeting protected characteristics.
The new requirement takes effect January 1, 2028.
Supporters describe the measure as a practical way to prevent harassment and intimidation involving race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected categories.
But Christian critics see a potential collision between the state’s preferred training language and longstanding religious teachings.
The California Family Council has argued that the mandate leaves crucial questions unanswered about how employers should distinguish unlawful workplace harassment from constitutionally protected expression.
Its concern centers partly on the lack of a precise statutory definition of speech that “vilifies, humiliates, or incites hatred.”
Those are broad words. And broad words in the hands of bureaucrats have an unfortunate habit of acquiring meanings nobody anticipated when the legislation passed.
Religious critics also note that the measure contains no specific church exemption, raising questions about how it might apply to religious employers already covered by California’s training requirements.
To be clear, AB 1803 is not a general law outlawing sermons, Bible passages or private religious convictions. It concerns training requirements in covered workplaces.
The legislation also does not create an entirely separate new training course; its requirements are incorporated into existing harassment-prevention instruction.
Still, critics have a legitimate question about where instruction against harassment ends and pressure to accept a government-favored interpretation of controversial social issues begins.
Proponents argue that employees deserve protection against hostile workplace environments. Religious organizations respond that preventing harassment should not require surrendering sincerely held beliefs.
One suspects the lawyers will have considerably more fun with this than the employees sitting through the training videos.
DBS WIRE SOURCES (I’ve got all day).
- Fox News — Christian organizations object to California’s new workplace training law
- California Family Council — AB 1803 analysis and objections
- California Senate Labor Committee — Legislative analysis of AB 1803
