The deadline for California’s 900,000 foodservice workers to earn food-handler permits is this Friday, July 1, 2011. The California Food Handler Card Law is designed to ensure that restaurant employees receive a reasonable level of training in food safety practices to reduce the potential of food borne illness.
If employers/employees are found out of compliance they will most likely face deductions during the health-inspection process, but each local jurisdiction will determine the penalty for non-compliance.
While the law is not crystal clear, the intent seems to be that employees are responsible for getting this training and card at their own cost, which is only $15.00. Therefore, employers need not pay for the time or the cost of the class/card, but they can and should require that their employees receive this training as a condition of employment.
If you would like additional information concerning this matter, please contact:
Employment & Labor Lead Partners at Silver & Freedman
Andy Kaplan at [email protected]
and Beth Schroeder at [email protected].
