California is known to be one of the most employer-friendly states in America, but it also has some complex labor regulations that may prove challenging for small businesses.
Minimum Wage
California boasts some of the highest minimum wages in America, due to its expensive living costs. Therefore, workers need a livable wage in order to afford an equivalent standard of living to that elsewhere in America.
Minimum wages are the amount that employers must pay employees for each hour worked, regardless of whether they’re paid on a piece rate, commission basis or daily basis.
Although most minimum wage laws require employees to be paid a fixed amount for every hour they work, some exceptions may exist. These include employees employed by nonprofit organizations such as sheltered workshops or rehabilitation facilities who receive less than minimum wage wages.
Another exception applies to employees with no prior experience in the work they are hired for. In such cases, they are entitled to 85% of the minimum wage for their first 160 hours of employment.
In addition to this, wage laws in Los Angeles, employers are required to pay employees at least 96 hours of overtime annually. This amount is determined based on the CPI-W inflation index and subject to periodic increases.
Workers in restaurants are entitled to a 30-minute meal break every 30 minutes. These breaks are further safeguarded by California’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
California has many laws that dictate how employers must treat their employees. Understanding these regulations and how they apply to your company and employees can be complex; thus, it’s integral that you comprehend their impact.
For instance, the California Civil Rights Department recently passed a law requiring employers to provide pay scale information to current and prospective employees upon request. Employers are now required to report salary and demographic data annually.
Meal Breaks
Meal and rest breaks are an integral part of work life. Many people find it difficult to continue at their jobs without some form of break time. Unfortunately, California law is complicated, so if employers fail to adhere to the regulations they could face costly litigation.
California’s meal and rest break laws are designed to safeguard employees. Non-exempt workers must take a 30-minute unpaid meal break for every five hours worked, followed by another 30-minute unpaid break after ten hours worked. Employees may opt out of taking these mandatory breaks under certain circumstances.
Employees must be relieved of all work-related duties and allowed to leave the employer’s premises during a meal break. The break should be uninterrupted and last no more than 30 minutes.
California has more complex rules regarding meal breaks, in addition to the standard regulations concerning rest periods. According to California’s wage order, which you can read about here, some non-exempt employees must be permitted a quick paid rest period for every four hours worked or “major fraction thereof”.
If an employer fails to provide employees with their required rest period, they must compensate them one hour additional pay at their regular rate for each day that no break was provided. This payment is known as “premium pay.”
Restaurants often fail to observe meal break regulations. Recently, chefs, busboys, servers and hostesses at a popular food chain in the Los Angeles area alleged their employer failed to ensure they took their breaks for lunch.
Though these lawsuits are rare, they serve as a reminder that California’s complex meal and rest break law can be challenging to comprehend. As such, employers should develop carefully worded policies and instruct managers and supervisors on how best to implement them.
Child Labor
Child labor laws exist to safeguard minors from working conditions that could negatively affect their education, health and safety. They include limitations on how many hours a minor can work as well as regulations specific to certain industries like farming or entertainment.
California’s laws concerning the employment of minors are enforced at both state and federal levels of government. The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/) in Sacramento investigates complaints of violations to various state child labor laws and makes recommendations to the federal Wage & Hour Division for follow-up inspections.
The Department of Labor and Standards Enforcement’s website offers guidance to employers, educators, parents, and teens on how to abide by California’s child labor laws. You’ll find details on obtaining age certification, work permits, breaks and more from their offices.
It provides information regarding teen workplace safety and how to report a violation of the law. Those needing assistance with regards to child labor laws can reach out directly to DLSE or submit a complaint online.
Recently, several state legislatures have introduced legislation to weaken or repeal protections for young workers. This trend is the result of a coordinated effort among multi-industry groups to expand employer access to low wage, hazardous jobs in ways which undermine or contradict federal protections that exist nationwide.
Breastfeeding Breaks
Nursing mothers often face challenges returning to work after childbirth, making it increasingly challenging for them to return to the workforce. Therefore, state and local laws pertaining to lactation breaks are becoming more and more important.
In California, employees who need to express breast milk for their infants have the right to take breaks during work that are protected by state law. Employers must provide these employees with break time and a private space to pump breast milk, as well as any other accommodations necessary to meet their needs.
Lactation breaks should be provided as often and for as long as the nursing mother requires. If not, and HR has already been notified, Employment Attorneys Los Angeles would happily take the case as this is your constitutional right. Some women require milk expression every 4 hours, while others may require 45 minutes or more – so it’s something every company should have taken care of, by now, in 2023.
New York, New Jersey and California all have laws that require employers to provide reasonable break time for nursing mothers regardless of an employee’s exempt status or the size of the employer. These breaks should take place in a private place other than a bathroom that is shielded from view and free from intrusion by coworkers or the public.
This private room or other location must be convenient to the employee’s workplace and separate from other working areas. It must be free of carpet, curtains, walls and windows which could potentially be visible to coworkers.