Are employers allowed to require employees to attend training sessions?

In California, employers are generally allowed to require employees to attend training sessions, though certain restrictions may apply. Generally speaking, employers are required to provide employees with reasonable notice of any training sessions they are requested to attend, usually at least two weeks if the session is not related to a safety issue. If training is mandatory, however, employees must attend and employers cannot withhold pay for failure to attend training unless the employee has been previously warned of the consequences of non-attendance. Employers must also ensure that any training session that is mandatory does not interfere with the employee’s right to rest and meal periods. Additionally, if the training session is off-site, employers must reimburse employees for any travel-related expenses. Furthermore, employers must also pay employees for their time spent attending training sessions. While employers are generally allowed to require employees to attend training sessions, they must comply with all state and federal labor laws to ensure the rights of their employees are being honored. This includes providing proper compensation for the time employees spend attending training sessions, as well as reasonable notice about the training and any applicable reimbursement of travel expenses.

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