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California Department of Industrial Relations Data Breach

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm on September 26, 2025 in Data Breach

NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from California Department of Industrial Relations, contact the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 to discuss your legal options, or submit a confidential Case Evaluation form here.

​​​​​​​​On September 19, 2025, the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) reported a significant cybersecurity incident to the California Attorney General’s Office. The incident, which occurred from August 26 through September 2, 2025, involved unauthorized access to DIR’s public works contractor registration system (the “Data Breach”). During this time, sensitive personal data of contractors and others who used the system may have been viewed or downloaded by an unauthorized third party. 

Recently, DIR has begun sending data breach notification letters to those affected. If you received a Data Breach notification letter from DIR, it confirms that your information was potentially impacted.

The California Department of Industrial Relations is a state agency headquartered in Oakland, California, with multiple offices throughout the state. It oversees a broad range of labor and workplace safety programs, including wage and hour enforcement, workers’ compensation, occupational safety, and apprenticeship standards. DIR plays a key role in enforcing labor laws and protecting workers and employers across the state. 

WHAT INFORMATION IS INVOLVED IN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DATA BREACH?

California Department of Industrial Relations Data BreachThe following types of information may have been compromised in the Data Breach:  

  • Dates of birth
  • Medical/patient record numbers,
  • Social Security numbers,
  • Residential city information,
  • Zip codes,
  • Medical record excerpts. 

This information is called your Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”). It tells others about you and is considered part of your identity. Businesses are required to secure this information or risk facing statutory penalties, among other legal penalties. Stolen PII can be used by identity thieves to engage in fraudulent activity using your identity. 

Personal medical information (a specific type of PII) is referred to as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). It is protected under both state and federal law. Healthcare providers and other businesses who handle PHI are required to protect that information. Like stolen PII, stolen PHI can be used by identity thieves to engage in fraudulent activity using your identity. Quite often, PII and PHI are used in conjunction by hackers.

The best way to protect yourself after a data breach is to sign up for credit and identity protection services as soon as possible. 

California offers extra protections and legal rights to its residents through the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”).

NOTICE: If you received a NOTICE OF DATA BREACH letter from Union County, Ohio, contact the Arnold Law Firm at (916) 777-7777 to discuss your legal options, or submit a confidential Case Evaluation form here