Articles Posted in Employment Law

California employers are once again facing significant employment law changes scheduled to take effect in 2026. Following the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a broad package of labor and employment legislation that will materially affect workplace compliance, documentation, pay practices, and enforcement exposure across the state. Many of these new…

Why Worker Classification Matters In California, one of the most important issues in employment law is the difference between an employee and an independent contractor. The label matters because employees are legally entitled to protections such as minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and protection from wrongful termination. Independent…

For decades, the H-1B visa has been the most recognized pathway for skilled foreign professionals seeking to work in the United States. However, with recent proclamations by former President Donald Trump aimed at restricting H-1B availability and rumors of filing fees climbing as high as $100,000, both employers and international workers are asking the same…

Wrongful termination is one of the most stressful issues an employee can face, and in California it happens more often than many people realize. Losing a job is always difficult, but when the firing is illegal, the law provides powerful protections. If you believe your employer is about to fire you unfairly, knowing your rights…

Immigrant employees in California are often vulnerable to abusive or exploitative employers who attempt to use immigration status as leverage in the workplace. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for unscrupulous employers to threaten workers with immigration consequences if they complain about unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, or unlawful termination. These actions are not only illegal…

Constructive discharge, also referred to as constructive termination, occurs when an employee resigns due to working conditions so intolerable that a reasonable person in the employee’s position would have felt compelled to resign. Under California law, a resignation under such conditions may be treated as an involuntary termination, allowing the employee to pursue legal claims…

In a significant legislative development, California has enacted substantial reforms to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) through Assembly Bill 2288 (AB 2288) and Senate Bill 92 (SB 92), both signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 1, 2024. These amendments address longstanding criticisms of PAGA by refining standing requirements, adjusting penalty structures,…

As California strides into 2025, the state has enacted a series of new employment laws aimed at enhancing workers’ rights, promoting fair wages, and adapting to the changing dynamics of the workforce. Below is a comprehensive overview of these significant changes, backed by the relevant statutes and codes. 1. Minimum Wage Increases: California has mandated…

Increased Statewide Minimum Wage Beginning January 1, 2024, all employers operating in California will be required to pay a minimum wage of $16 per hour, regardless of their size. Note that several cities in California, such as Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco, and West Hollywood, have their own minimum wage requirements that exceed the…

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chamber of Commerce v. Bonta, 20-15291 held yesterday in a 2-1 decision that California businesses may require an agreement to arbitrate employment disputes as a condition of being hired or continued as an employee. The Court affirmed a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of AB 51. This bill…