Category: Employment Law

California employers can face significant legal liability when their employees are harassed by clients, customers, vendors, or other non-employees. In the transportation industry, where employees are routinely working at locations controlled by third parties, the risk is higher than employers realize.   Most employers know they’re legally obligated to protect employees from harassment by coworkers and…

California has some of the most employee-protective background check laws in the country. The process is more formal than most employers realize, and the consequences of getting it wrong (litigation, penalties, damages, etc.) can be significant. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.  Running a background check on a prospective employee sounds straightforward,…

California’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency has proposed sweeping new rules governing how PAGA claims are filed, cured, and settled. Nothing is final yet, but the proposed changes are good news for employers. Here’s what you need to know now.  Note: This area of law is actively developing. The regulations discussed below are proposed, not…

You’ve done the research: You typed your situation into ChatGPT, read through its very confident, well-structured answer, and now you’re sitting across from a lawyer, armed with a five-point summary and a handful of legal terms you’ve never said out loud before. As generative AI becomes common, this very scenario is playing out in law…

California employers operate under some of the most comprehensive leave requirements in the country. These laws are designed to protect workers — but often have the unintended effect of creating troublesome compliance challenges for businesses if policies and procedures are not carefully maintained and followed.  One of the strongest tools you can deploy is a proactive, coherent leave policy and procedure that is well-understood by your HR…

With a fast-approaching deadline of February 1, 2026, California’s Senate Bill 294, also known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act, adds a compliance obligation focused on workplace notices and employee awareness of labor rights. The law requires you to provide a new “Know Your Rights” notice created by the state that informs workers of…

Welcome back to our 2026 California employment law update series. In this one, we’ll break down several new and upcoming laws that affect workplaces across the state. From stricter pest management requirements to expanded paid leave and COVID-era rehiring protections, these updates have important implications for employers. Read on to understand what’s already taken effect, what’s coming, and the key action items you’ll want…

California employers once again face a busy compliance year in 2026. In addition to another increase to the state minimum wage, the Legislature has adopted a slate of laws that touch issues such as wage levels, training repayment agreements, wage garnishments, and expanded pay data obligations.  Here’s an overview, along with practical steps you can take to reduce risk.   California’s new minimum wage   Starting January 1, 2026, California’s statewide minimum…

In September 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 288, a new law that expands California’s authority to enforce labor relations laws when the federal government declines to act. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), which traditionally handles public-sector labor disputes, will be able to step in and enforce certain provisions of…

Unless you’ve gone to law school or study the law in your spare time, you’re like a lot of people across the nation — you probably are quite unfamiliar with the state and federal laws that are at work every day. One such law is the Fair Labor Standards Act. You’ve probably heard this law…