As the dust settles after another active California legislative session, employers still have more legislation to be on the lookout for by way of ballot measures. In the midterm elections this year, several cities in California will be voting on regulations that will impact employers.

Over the summer, several California cities considered, and some passed ordinances increasing the minimum wage for healthcare workers in those cities to $25.00. Since the summer, many of the ordinances are stayed pending referendums in the future, but two cities, Duarte and Inglewood, will vote on whether to implement a $25.00 minimum wage for healthcare workers effective 2024. The City of Los Angeles will ask voters whether to proceed with its healthcare minimum wage, but it won’t be on the ballot until March 2024.

Laguna Beach voters will consider whether to establish a Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance similar to one recently passed by the City of Los Angeles. Under the proposed ordinance, 60 days following the effective date of the ordinance, the minimum wage for hotel employees would increase to $18.00, and on January 1, 2023, it would increase to $19.00, with further increases annually. The proposed ordinance would also put in place protections for hotel workers from violent and threatening conduct, including providing personal security devices and paid time off to report violent and threatening conduct to law enforcement. The ordinance, if passed, would also establish certain limitations on workload, both time and amount of work, for hotel workers.

The success of these local ballot measures may be a precursor for similar industry-specific measures in other cities. Jackson Lewis will continue to track legislation that affects employers. If you have questions about these local ballot measures, contact a Jackson Lewis attorney to discuss.   

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Photo of Jonathan A. Siegel Jonathan A. Siegel

Jonathan A. Siegel is one of the founding Principals of the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He practices before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, state and federal agencies and courts.

Mr. Siegel also provides advice and…

Jonathan A. Siegel is one of the founding Principals of the Orange County, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He practices before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, state and federal agencies and courts.

Mr. Siegel also provides advice and counsel regarding labor and employment law with respect to various issues ranging from wage and hour law, reduction in force, WARN Act, discipline, leave management and harassment and discrimination issues. Mr. Siegel defends employers regarding different varieties of wrongful termination and discrimination claims.

Mr. Siegel has represented management in union organizing drives and regularly defends employers in unfair labor practice proceedings as well as in collective bargaining and arbitrations. He also has extensive experience conducting wage and hour preventive audits. He conducts single location and multi-location audits for employers. The scope of such audits can range from examining specific issues, i.e., exempt status under federal law and California, to comprehensive FLSA and California Labor Code audits. Mr. Siegel has conducted audits for a wide range of industries including, but not limited to manufacturing, retail, transportation, various service industries, defense contractors and healthcare.

Mr. Siegel regularly speaks on a variety of topics including wage and hour, harassment/discrimination, national and California employment trends, Workers’ Compensation, EEO, managing leaves of absence under FMLA and state leave laws and union avoidance. He has moderated numerous programs and is featured as a keynote speaker for several different organizations.