Employment Law Information Network
All Things Labor and Employment Law
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour Tags: Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles has put the minimum wage increase for hotel workers on hold. Certain provisions were to take effect on July 1, 2025. This decision comes after a referendum petition against the ordinance was filed with the City Clerk’s office on June 27, 2025.
The ordinancewouldincrease wages
Posted: | Ogletree Deakins Category: California - Wage & Hour Tags: Meal and Rest
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 holdings regarding class certification in California wage-and-hour litigation.
Posted: | CDF Labor Law LLP Category: California - Wage & Hour
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 explanation of the causes and specific minimum wage increases can be found in our previous blog post. California employers are strongly encouraged to review the applicable minimum wage in their municipalities to ensure they are paying the correct rates come July 1.
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour
Employers in the healthcare industry in California are subject to a separate minimum wage from other employers.
Effective July 1, 2025, certain healthcare facilities will see an increase in their minimum wage rates. The following is a summary of the increases based on the type of employer.
Type of Healthcare
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour
At the start of the year, the state minimum wage increased, along with several local jurisdictions. Many other California cities and counties also raise their minimum wage on July 1.
The following localities will raise their minimum wage on July 1, 2025:
LocalityCurrent
Minimum WageNew Minimum wageAlameda$17.00$17.46Berkeley$18.67$19.18Emeryville$19.36$19.90Fremont$17.30$17.75City of Los Angeles$17.28$17.87County of Los
Posted: | Shaw Law Group, PC Category: California - Wage & Hour
On April 21, 2025, the California Court of Appeal issued a significant ruling in favor of employers. In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, the court held that revocable meal period waivers prospectively signed by employees are
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour Tags: Los Angeles
On May 27, the City of Los Angeles passed amendments to the Living Wage Ordinance (LWO) and the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance (HWMO). The development of these amendments began in December 2024, and since then have been the subject of debate and public comment.
Here is what hotel and
Posted: | Shaw Law Group, PC Category: California - Wage & Hour
In this episode, Jen discusses a recent California court decision upholding meal period waivers and explains how to make them enforceable.
Posted: | CDF Labor Law LLP Category: California - Wage & Hour
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 increased cost of living in many localities within the state. As a result, many jurisdictions in California have established higher minimum wages than California’s current minimum wage rate of $16.50/hour. These municipalities include, but are not limited to: Alameda, Belmont, Berkeley, Burlingame, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Foster City, Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Los Altos, Los Angeles (city and county), Malibu, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Mountain View, Novato, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Petaluma, San Carlos, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Mateo (city and county), Santa Clara, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, and West Hollywood.
Generally, employers are required to pay a higher state or local minimum wage. Employers should check compliance with their local minimum wage law to ensure they will be paying employees the correct amount by July 1, 2025. Employers must comply with the more stringent law (when compared with the state/Federal).
A non-exhaustive list of increases is below:
In addition, some cities have industry-specific minimum wage laws. For example, hotel workers in West Hollywood will see an increased rate to $20.22/hr as of July 1, 2025 (up from $19.61/hr). And for hotels and businesses operating on hotel property, those employers will need to pay covered workers $21.01/hr as of July 1, 2025 (up from $20.32/hr). NOTE: This is subject to change, as on May 12, 2025, the City of Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a proposal to require a $22.50 minimum wage for hotel workers effective July 1, 2025, subject to a final vote by the City Council and action by the mayor. If this ordinance becomes effective, the City of Santa Monica’s hotel worker living wage will also increase to $22.50/hr effective July 1, 2025, or the soonest date thereafter that the ordinance becomes effective.)
Notably, covered fast food workers in California must be paid at least $20.00/hr, (which exceeds many local rates for non-fast food workers.) This increase was due to AB 1228, which amended the Labor Code to provide a minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees. A city or county local minimum wage may exceed $20.00/hr, and employers must pay the higher rate.
Other cities, such as Milpitas, have laws that raise the minimum wage rate every July 1, based on the increased cost of living. This is usually calculated and set by the relevant local Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Municipalities rely on the CPI to determine and adjust minimum wage ordinances in California to reflect the cost of living and to keep pace with inflation.
To summarize, California employers should review the applicable local minimum wage for all employees (including remote employees) to ensure they are paying the correct rate and get ready to implement increases for July 1, 2025.
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour
It is important for employers in California to understand what is permitted for wage deductions to maintain compliance and avoid potential pitfalls.
Posted: | CDF Labor Law LLP Category: California - Wage & Hour Tags: Los Angeles
By: Reminder: Get Ready for Los Angeles County’s Fair Work Week Ordinance Effective Date: July 1, 2025
As we previously blogged, effective July 1, 2025, Los Angeles County’s new Fair Work Week Ordinance requires qualifying retailers and grocers (300+ employees nationwide in unincorporated LA County) to give workers predictable schedules, advance notice, rest between shifts, and “predictability pay” for certain schedule changes. It also mandates recordkeeping, posting notices, and limits on hiring new staff before offering existing employees extra hours.
Here’s a quick refresher on the key requirements:
1. Good Faith Estimate of Work Schedule
2. Advance Notice of Schedules
3. Right to Request Hours, Times & Locations
4. Access to Additional Hours Before Hiring
5. Premium (“Predictability”) Pay for Schedule Changes (Subject to Exemptions)
6. Rest Time Between Shifts
7. Mandatory Notice Posting
8. Recordkeeping
9. Manager Training
Next Steps
By proactively implementing these measures, your organization will mitigate risk and avoid costly penalties.
Posted: | Shaw Law Group, PC Category: California - Wage & Hour
On April 21, the California Court of Appeal issued a significant ruling in favor of employers. In Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, the court held that revocable meal period waivers prospectively signed by employees are enforceable,
Posted: | Ogletree Deakins Category: California - Wage & Hour
All 2024 California pay data reporting filings are due to be filed no later than May 14, 2025. Failing to meet this deadline could subject employers to fines or penalties of up to $100 per employee for a first violation and up to $200 per employee for a second violation.
Posted: | Jackson Lewis Category: California - Wage & Hour
As an employer in California, it’s necessary to understand and comply with the state’s payday laws.
California law mandates that employers establish regular paydays and notify employees of these dates. A model notice is available on the Labor Commissioner’s website.
The frequency of paydays depends on the type of work
Posted: | Shaw Law Group, PC Category: California - Wage & Hour
In this episode, Jen explains the value of wage-hour audits.