California - Wage & Hour

On November 18, 2025, the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, issued a published decision in Anton’s Services Inc. v. Hagen , affirming administrative findings and penalties against a contractor for misclassifying workers, failing to pay prevailing wages, and violating apprentices

California’s wage-and-hour framework is deliberately interconnected. A change in the statewide minimum wage—the foundation on which many other wage rules rest—triggers a cascade of downstream adjustments across classifications, premiums, postings, notices, and payroll operations. With the statewide

State Minimum Wage On January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage will increase from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour. Local Minimum Wage Also on January 1, 2026, several local municipalities will increase their minimum wage rates. Local jurisdictions are allowed to set the minimum wage higher than the stat

California continues to lead the nation in pay equity enforcement, and new requirements are reshaping employer obligations. In this episode, Jen breaks down SB 1162 and other recent legislation requiring employers to post pay scales in job ads, disclose pay ranges internally, and file detailed pay d

California is doubling down on pay equity and transparency in 2026. Building on Senate Bill 1162—which created California’s modern pay data reporting program and job‑posting pay scale rules—the Civil Rights Department (CRD) will continue to

The City of San Diego’s hospitality industry is ushering in substantial changes in wage requirements. The City Council has passed an ordinance

On October 8, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that will set the statute of limitations for civil actions alleging violations of the state’s pay transparency requirements at three years, with a six-year “look-back” period to obtain relief for an existing violation.

As we approach 2026, California continues to push forward in labor and employment law. Some changes take effect immediately, others phase in, and some are still being finalized. Below is a summary of the most

On October 8, 2025, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 642, which revised California’s Equal Pay Act. Revisions to the Act will take effect January

Minimum Wage, Overtime, Meal/Rest Breaks, Predictive Scheduling, Prevailing Wage—Plus 2026 on the Horizon

California Court of Appeal Rules on Who Is an “Exempt” Employee for Paid Sick Leave Rate-of-Pay Purposes On August 4, 2025, in Hirdman v. tgelbman@littler.com Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:43

In July, the City of Los Angeles put the minimum wage increase for hotel workers on hold. Certain provisions were to take effect on July 1, 2025. The decision to pause the ordinance came after a referendum petition against the ordinance was filed with the City Clerk’s office on June 27, 2025. On Sep

On August 21, 2025, the Supreme Court of California ruled that employers must demonstrate that they took reasonable steps to comply with minimum wage laws to mount a good-faith defense against liquidated damages. The decision in Iloff v. LaPaille overturned an earlier state appellate court decision.

California’s Department of Finance recently announced the minimum wage increase for 2026. The minimum wage in California will increase from $16.50 per

California Supreme Court Issues Decision on Good-Faith Defense for Minimum Wage Violations and Enforcement of Paid Leave Obligations under HWHFA In Iloff v. tgelbman@littler.com Mon, 08/25/2025 - 14:33

Summer vacations are in full swing, and so are wage-hour risks for California employers. Whether it's a quick email from the beach or a work call squeezed in between sightseeing, even a few minutes of off-the-clock

The California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, recently affirmed a trial court ruling decertifying a wage-and-hour class action alleging a hospital failed to comply with protections for meal and rest periods for registered nurses. The ruling provided several significant employer-friendly

By: Reminder: Minimum Wage Hikes Take Effect Tomorrow (July 1) On July 1, 2025 new increased minimum wage rates will be effective in many California cities and counties. Many municipalities are increasing the minimum wage across the board, and others have industry-specific increases. A more full exp

In this episode, Jen discusses a recent California court decision upholding meal period waivers and explains how to make them enforceable.

By: July 1 Minimum Wage Hikes Across California Explained On July 1, 2025, new increased minimum wage rates will go into effect in many California cities and counties. Local governments have looked to offset the effects of inflation and have decided to use minimum wage ordinances to address the incr