California Legislature Fails To Pass Bill For Private Right of Action For Penalties for Untimely Wage Payments
Articles Discussing California Wage & Hour Laws.
California Legislature Declines to Create New Private Right of Action to Recover Unpaid Wages
On February 2, 2026, the California Legislature declined to pass legislation (Senate Bill (SB 310)) that would have created a private right of action to recover unpaid wages. Employees who allege lost wages can still seek recovery either as a statutory penalty through the state Department of Labor Standards Enforcement
California Pay Data Reporting (RY 2025): CRD Releases Official Files — What Practitioners Should Read First
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has released its Reporting Year (RY) 2025 Pay Data Reporting FAQ and Handbook. The statute remains familiar, but the filing mechanics this cycle are not. CRD’s materials emphasize a prescribed file structure, add required data elements, and signal that conformity to the current-year template will be central to a… Continue Reading
California Expands Enforcement and Penalties for Tip Violations
California continues to strengthen employee wage protections with Senate Bill No. 648 (“SB 648”), a new law that amends Labor Code section 351 aimed at enhancing enforcement against tip theft.
California CRD Releases Preliminary Templates & FAQs for Annual Pay Data Reporting
Ahead of the May 13, 2026, filing deadline, the California Civil Rights Department has released preliminary templates and updated FAQs for the 2025 pay data reporting cycle. Although these simplified templates may still be revised, they highlight new mandatory data fields, including exemption status, employment type, and total annual weeks worked. Read more about these… Continue Reading
California CRD Publishes Preliminary Templates & FAQ for Pay Data Reporting for Upcoming Reporting Year 2025
California’s annual pay data reporting submission this year is due on May 13, 2026. Each cycle, the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) typically releases updated guidance for that year’s reporting in early February. While we await this annual guidance, CRD has already provided preliminary templates for payroll employee and labor contractor pay data reporting and… Continue Reading
California Pay Scale Rules in 2026
California pay scale requirements have been in place for several years, yet many employers remain uncertain about what compliance truly requires. Now that we are in 2026, recent amendments to California’s pay transparency laws make
New Year, New Poster: Navigating California Paid Sick Leave Updates
New Year, New Poster: Navigating California Paid Sick Leave Updates
California Civil Rights Department Previews 2025 Pay Data Reporting Templates
The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has published preliminary templates and guidance in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for the 2025 California pay reporting cycle, which is expected to open in early February 2026. These preliminary documents outline several changes to the pay reporting process that employers should
California Labor Commissioner Publishes Updated Paid Sick Leave Poster
The California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) has released an updated Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act (HWHFA) paid sick leave poster, and employers should make sure the most current version is on display. The revised poster,
Unpaid Wage Judgments: Penalties Triple Under SB 261 Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
Employers who ignore wage judgments will face sharp consequences starting January 1, 2026 — including mandatory attorneys’ fees and triple the amount owed. Jen…
California’s Pay Transparency Shift
California has long been at the forefront of employee-protection laws, and compensation transparency is no exception. For decades, employers commonly tried to limit pay discussions to avoid tension among staff. But wage secrecy is largely
Goodbye, Stay-or-Pay: The End of Retention Repayment Agreements (AB 692) Workplace Wake-Up with Jen Shaw
“Stay-or-pay” agreements — where employees must repay training or bonuses if they leave — are now off-limits in California (with narrow exceptions). Jen…
California Labor Commissioner Publishes Updated Paid Sick Leave Posting
California employers must promptly update their workplace postings because the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) recently released a revised Healthy Workplaces/Healthy Families Act (HWHFA) poster reflecting recent amendments to the state paid sick leave. In 2024, California passed a bill that amended leave rights for employees pertaining to victims’ leave and attendance at court… Continue Reading
Scheduling Employees To Work In California: Easier Said Than Done Mar 3, 2023
Nancy “Niki” Lubrano, Partner & Co-Chair of CDF’s Class Action Defense Litigation Practice Group, recently authored the article “Scheduling Employees To Work In California: Easier Said Than Done – Tips on California wage and hour compliance,” for the Workforce Management Time and Attendance February 2023 edition.