Articles Posted in Employment Law

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…

On June 28, 2022, the Court of Appeal in the matter of Seviour-Iloff v. LaPaille held that a Chief Executive Officer was personally liable for the wage and hour violations of the corporate employer. The Plaintiffs in this case originally filed a claim for unpaid wages and Labor Code penalties with the Division of Labor…

Beginning July 1, 2022 employers in jurisdictions of either Los Angeles City or the unincorporated cities of Los Angeles County will need to increase their pay to minimum wage employees at or near the current $15 per hour wage. Under the the Los Angeles Minimum Wage Ordinance, the minimum wage will increase from $15 an…

What Are My Rights Under California Law if I Earn Commission Wages? Commission wages are compensation in the form of a percentage of the price of the product or service which is sold by an Employee. Alternatively, commission wages may be based proportionally on the number of products or services sold. California law (Labor Code…

Wage Deductions May Be Made When Permitted by Federal or State Law California law allows the employer to withhold or divert any portion of wages where the deduction is required or the employer is empowered to do so by federal or state law. This category includes withholdings for federal and state taxes. Also, employers may…

Tips Belong to the Employees Who Received Them A California Employer shall collect, take, or receive any gratuity or a part thereof, that is paid, given to or left for an Employee by a customer. The law prohibits Employers and every person other than the employer who has the authority to hire or fire any…

Every California employer must provide an accurate itemized account in writing to their nonexempt employees semimonthly or at the time of each payment of wages, either as a detachable part of the check, draft, or voucher paying the employee’s wages, or separately if wages are paid by personal check or cash. This writing is also…