The California Department of Finance recently announced in a letter that the state's minimum wage must increase from $15.50 to $16 per hour. The new minimum wage, which is set to go into effect Jan. 1, is due to an inflation adjustment required by state law....
California, known for its vibrant economy and diverse industries, has robust labor laws in place to protect workers’ rights. Among these laws, the state’s minimum wage stands as a crucial pillar to help ensure fair compensation for employees across various sectors....
Hourly workers generally have the right to demand compensation for any time committed to their jobs. Workers deserve the promised pay they negotiated when they perform their job as expected by their employer, and they should receive full pay for all of the time that...
Understanding the intricacies of wage laws is critical for anyone working in a service industry where tips are part of the compensation structure. In California, specific laws govern tip pooling or sharing, which is the practice of pooling and dividing tips among...
Wage theft is a serious economic concern for hourly workers in particular. Employees who need every cent that they earn to support their families are often those most at risk of not receiving their pay in full. The impact of wage theft can add up to major losses for...
In California, the distinction between independent contractors and employees carries significant legal implications. How a worker is classified can impact tax obligations, legal rights and benefits. Understanding this distinction is vital for businesses to prevent...
As an employee, you are entitled to fair pay for your work. So, what happens when your employer overworks you and doesn’t pay your overtime? It’s a frustrating and often confusing situation, and thankfully, you and your co-workers don’t have to suffer in silence....
When you get hired on a new job, your boss tells you that the company has a policy where you don’t discuss wages. He or she asks you not to talk about how much you’re being paid with the other employees. They say it nicely and smile, but you can tell that they’re very...
There are numerous ways that businesses try to minimize what they pay for staffing. Oftentimes, they cap the wages they will offer for certain positions and even go so far as to limit how many people will be scheduled for specific shifts. Occasionally, companies go...
California’s Depart of Industrial Relations, which includes the Labor Commissioner’s office, is suffering from a major staffing problem, and the backlog of wage claims has climbed into the tens of thousands. Even though there’s a proposed budget that would allow the...