Summary Of The New 2014 CA Labor Laws

The following is a summary of the new Labor Laws, most of which will take effect on January 1, 2014:

1. The current $8-an-hour state minimum wage will increase to $9 on July 1, 2014, and to $10 per hour on Jan. 1, 2016.
2. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights will provide overtime wages for certain in-home workers, such as personal attendants for the sick, disabled and elderly.
3. The laws requiring meal and rest periods will be extended to require “recovery” periods taken to prevent heat illness.
4. Employers will be required to pay actual damages to employees for minimum wage violations in addition to penalties and interest.
5. Employers will be banned from retaliating or taking any adverse action against workers who assert their rights, such as complaining about wage theft. A civil penalty of up to $10,000 per employee may be imposed per violation.
6. Employees can file a lien on an employers’ real property if they don’t pay fines or back wages ordered by the state labor commissioner.
7. Employees will be protected from retaliation when filing a report against their Employers alleging a violation of wage and hour laws.
8. Employers will be prohibited from threatening to contact immigration authorities after a worker files a formal complaint about an alleged violation of wage and overtime requirements.
9. Employees may seek to suspend or revoke an employer’s business license for reporting — or threatening to report — to federal law enforcement a worker’s immigration status.

Please note that the information I am providing here in this entry, or in my website is NOT to be construed as legal advice nor is it meant to form an attorney-client relationship. For a free legal consultation by phone, please call or email me anytime.