Insight & Commentary on California Workplace Law Issues & Developments
At the start of the year, the state minimum wage increased, along with several local jurisdictions. Many other California cities and counties also raise their minimum wage on July 1.
The following localities will raise their minimum wage on July 1, 2025:
| Locality | Current Minimum Wage | New Minimum wage |
| Alameda | $17.00 | $17.46 |
| Berkeley |
It is important for employers in California to understand what is permitted for wage deductions to maintain compliance and avoid potential pitfalls.
Employers in California may lawfully withhold amounts from an employee’s wages if: (1) the employer is required to withhold certain amounts under state or federal law, such as federal and state income taxes…
Retail employers should note that the Los Angeles County Fair Workweek Ordinance will go into effect on July 1, 2025.
This ordinance applies to employers in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Businesses can check on the Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs website to see if they are located in an unincorporated area…
As an employer in California, it’s necessary to understand and comply with the state’s payday laws.
California law mandates that employers establish regular paydays and notify employees of these dates. A model notice is available on the Labor Commissioner’s website.
The frequency of paydays depends on the type of work and the agreement between the…
California’s pay data reporting requirements were established under Senate Bill (SB) 973, signed into law in 2020. The law mandates that private employers with 100 or more employees, including those hired through labor contractors, must annually report pay and demographic data to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD).
In 2022, Senate Bill (SB) 1162…
The Domestic Worker Bill of Rights (California Assembly Bill 241 and Senate Bill 1015), enacted in 2013, is a California law that grants overtime pay rights to personal attendants who were not previously entitled to overtime pay under California law. Personal attendants covered by this law are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times their…
Voters in California rejected Proposition 32, which would have increased the minimum wage to $18 for all employers by 2026. Under the proposition, the minimum wage increases depended on the size of the employer. Specifically, employers with 26 or more would have had to pay $17 hourly for the remainder of 2024 and $18 hourly…
For an employee to be exempt from overtime under California law, their job must fall into a specific exempt category.
The most common exemptions are for executive, administrative, and professional roles. Employees in these capacities generally qualify if their work meets detailed requirements and they earn at least twice the state minimum wage for full-time…
At the end of June, the Governor paused the California health care worker minimum wage due to budget concerns. The bill was delayed until certain state budget circumstances occurred, which happened on October 1. Now the minimum wage for health care workers will take effect October 16, 2024.
To assist with the implementation of the…
The California Governor recently signed Senate Bill (SB) 988, which establishes the Freelance Worker Protection Act (Act) which imposes minimum requirements relating to contracts between a hiring party and a freelance worker.
Under the new law, “freelance worker” is defined as a person or organization composed of no more than one person, whether or…
