As of January 1, 2025, Senate Bill (SB) 399, the California Worker Freedom from Employment Intimidation Act (the Act), prohibits employers from subjecting or threatening to subject employees to discrimination, retaliation,...more
2/3/2025
/ California ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Employee Rights ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
NLRA ,
Preemption ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Retaliation ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions
On January 1, 2025, California’s state minimum wage will increase to $16.50 per hour for all employers. As previously described, California voters rejected Proposition 32, a stair-step-increased minimum wage initiative....more
The California Department of Industrial Relations recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) clarifying the State’s paid sick leave law, which began on January 1, 2024...more
This election cycle, California voters rejected the minimum wage initiative Proposition 32 (Prop 32). The initiative would have provided a stair-step increase in statewide minimum wage from $16 an hour to $18 an hour by 2026....more
The fate of California Proposition 32 (Prop 32) remains undecided as votes are still being counted. Prop 32 addressed whether California’s minimum wage would increase starting January 1, 2025...more
With the 2024 California legislative year closed, it is once again time to summarize the new legislation that will affect businesses operating within California and highlight relevant action items related to this legislation....more
10/22/2024
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Popular ,
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures ,
Wage and Hour
The California Department of Industrial Relations recently updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding how claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) will be handled following recent reform...more
As we previously reported here and here, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 525, which provides a tiered approach for the increase of minimum wages for the state’s health care workers...more
In November 2024, California voters will decide whether to raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026 for all employers.
Under existing law, California’s minimum wage is $16 per hour for all employers. The ballot...more
The California Supreme Court issued its decision in Castellanos v. State (Castellanos) on July 25, 2024, ruling Proposition 22 (Prop 22), the initiative that allows businesses to classify drivers for app-based transportation...more
8/22/2024
/ CA Supreme Court ,
California ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Delivery Drivers ,
Independent Contractors ,
Mobile Apps ,
New Legislation ,
State Constitutions ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures ,
Unions ,
Workers’ Compensation
The director of California’s Department of Finance has certified that the state’s minimum wage will increase from $16 per hour to $16.50 per hour for all employers as of January 1, 2025. Companies with operations in...more
Over the years, California’s Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA) has provided a procedurally convenient means for employees to seek expansive penalties for employers’ alleged violations of California’s very technical...more
7/12/2024
/ California ,
Class Action ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Litigation ,
Labor Code ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Los Angeles County adopted a new Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers (the Ordinance) on February 27, 2024, which supplements California’s 2018 Fair Chance Act (located in California Government Code Section 12952 et. seq.)....more
California recently updated two pamphlets that employers must provide to employees. The new pamphlets are (1) a “Time of Hire Pamphlet” pertaining to workers’ compensation (to be provided at the time of hire) and (2) a “For...more
For some time now, California law has generally prohibited employers from entering into post-employment noncompete agreements with employees unless an exception applies. The basis for this prohibition is found in Section...more
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 848 on October 10, 2023. This new law expands California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to provide covered employees with protected leave after a reproductive...more
10/19/2023
/ Bereavement Leave ,
California ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
FEHA ,
Governor Newsom ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Leave ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government
As most companies are aware, absent specific exceptions, under California Business and Professions Code (Code) Section 16600, California generally prohibits employers from entering into contracts with employees that preclude...more
California employers with employees and job applicants subject to the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) can once again require such individuals to sign arbitration agreements as a condition of employment.
On February 15,...more
With the 2022 California legislative year closed, it is once again time to examine the new legislation that will affect entities operating within the state. Summaries of key legislation are below, with relevant action items...more
10/25/2022
/ Bereavement Leave ,
Cal-OSHA ,
California ,
California Family Rights Act (CFRA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Data Reporting ,
Employee Tracking ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fast-Food Industry ,
FEHA ,
Governor Newsom ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Leave ,
Pay Data ,
Pay Transparency ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
State Labor Laws ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour ,
WARN Act
With the 2021 California legislative year closed, it is now time to examine the new legislation that will affect California companies. We have summarized the key new legislation below, with relevant action items noted....more
10/26/2021
/ Arbitration ,
California ,
Compliance ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Regulations ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Piece-Rate Pay ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tips ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft ,
Warehouses ,
Workplace Safety
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law California Senate Bill 331 (SB‑331) titled the “Silenced No More Act.” SB‑331 expands two of California’s existing laws regarding employee settlement agreements and...more
Prior to January 1, 2021, all employers with five or more employees in California must provide one hour of sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training to nonsupervisory employees and two hours of sexual...more
The City of Los Angeles adopted and Mayor Eric Garcetti approved two new ordinances on April 27, 2020: the COVID-19 Right of Recall Ordinance and COVID-19 Worker Retention Ordinance.
The COVID-19 Right of Recall Ordinance...more