California’s employment laws never stay still—and 2025 and 2026 are shaping up to bring even more compliance challenges for employers. One of the biggest new laws on the horizon is Senate Bill 294, better known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act.

This new law adds major notice, training, and recordkeeping requirements for all California employers and aims to ensure workers clearly understand their rights on the job. Here are five key takeaways every California employer needs to know to stay compliant.

1. Annual Written Notice to Employees (Effective February 1, 2026)

Starting February 1, 2026, employers will be required to give employees a standalone written “Know Your Rights” notice every year.

  • The notice must go to all current employees each year and to new hires upon hire.
  • Employers can deliver the notice by email, text message, or personal delivery—whatever communication method is normally used with employees.
  • If employees are represented by a union, the authorized representative must receive a copy as well.

This new rule is designed to make sure every worker in California receives clear, accessible information about their workplace rights—directly from their employer.

2. What Must Be Included in the Notice

The annual Know Your Rights notice must cover a range of critical employment protections, including:

  • Workers’ compensation rights and contact details for the Division of Workers’ Compensation
  • Employee rights during immigration inspections, including notice requirements under Labor Code section 90.2
  • Protections against unfair immigration-related practices
  • The right to organize, form, or join a union, or to engage in concerted activity
  • Constitutional rights in the workplace during law enforcement actions, including:
    • Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
    • Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and right to due process

The Labor Commissioner will issue an official notice template by January 1, 2026, and translations must be provided in the languages normally used with employees (if available on the Commissioner’s website).

Tip for Employers: Keep a record of your notice distribution in your HR system or onboarding software. Tracking delivery electronically will make annual compliance much easier.

3. Recordkeeping Requirements: Keep Proof for Three Years

Employers must keep proof of notice delivery for at least three years. This proof can include:

  • Signed acknowledgment forms
  • Digital read receipts or confirmation emails
  • HR system logs

Strong documentation will be key if the Labor Commissioner or another enforcement agency requests verification.

For California HR teams, this is a good time to audit your employee recordkeeping process and ensure that all required workplace postings and notices are organized in one place.

4. New Educational Videos and Employer Resources

The Labor Commissioner’s Office will also release two educational videos by July 1, 2026:

  1. A video for employees explaining their workplace rights.
  2. A video for employers outlining compliance requirements and constitutional protections.

Employers should plan to include these videos in onboarding, annual training, or even all-hands compliance refreshers to demonstrate good-faith efforts at compliance.

For updates on when these materials become available, make sure you are subscribed to receive updates at California Employment Law Report.

5. New Employee Protections and Deadlines

By March 30, 2026, employers must allow employees to designate an emergency contact who should be notified if they are arrested or detained at work.

The law also contains anti-retaliation protections, meaning employers may not retaliate against employees who exercise or assert any of these rights.

In addition, the Labor Commissioner will specify future updates that must be included in the annual notice—so staying current will be essential for ongoing compliance.

Final Thoughts: Get Ready Now for the Workplace Know Your Rights Act

The Workplace Know Your Rights Act (SB 294) is part of California’s broader trend toward greater workplace transparency and employee education.

Employers should start preparing now by:

  • Reviewing HR communication systems to ensure notices can be distributed electronically.
  • Creating a calendar reminder for February 1, 2026 to deliver the first annual notice.
  • Checking the Labor Commissioner’s website in early 2026 for the official templates and translated versions.
  • Consulting with employment counsel to ensure all language and formatting meet legal requirements.

This article continues our Friday’s Five series highlighting the major new California employment laws taking effect in 2026. In recent weeks, we’ve covered several significant bills impacting employers — from expanded employee rights and new recordkeeping requirements to pay transparency updates and workplace enforcement changes.

This week, we turn to Assembly Bill 692 (Kalra) — California’s latest move to strengthen worker mobility and curb restrictive employment practices. Effective January 1, 2026, AB 692 targets so-called “stay-or-pay” or training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs) — a growing trend among employers seeking to discourage workers from leaving early by requiring repayment of training or relocation costs.California’s legislature continues its trend of expanding employee mobility protections. With AB 692, effective January 1, 2026, employers can no longer rely on “stay-or-pay” or training repayment agreement provisions (TRAPs) to discourage employees from leaving their jobs early.

Here are five key takeaways for employers:

1. AB 692 Closes the Loophole Around Non-Compete Alternatives

While California has long banned non-compete agreements under Business & Professions Code section 16600, some employers turned to “stay-or-pay” agreements — clauses requiring employees to repay training or relocation costs if they leave before a certain time. These TRAPs operated in a legal gray area, sometimes enforced, sometimes struck down as unconscionable. AB 692 eliminates that uncertainty by expressly prohibiting them altogether

2. New Code Sections Make Repayment Clauses Unlawful

The bill adds Business & Professions Code section 16608 and Labor Code section 926, making it illegal for an employer to require repayment of training expenses, relocation costs, or other hiring-related fees if an employee quits or is terminated. This prohibition applies broadly — even if the agreement was signed voluntarily

3. Limited Exceptions Exist

AB 692 allows only narrow exceptions:

  • Government-sponsored loan forgiveness or tuition programs
  • Agreements for transferable educational credentials, such as degrees or professional certifications, if strict criteria are met
  • State-approved apprenticeship programs
    These exceptions ensure legitimate educational arrangements remain valid while eliminating coercive repayment schemes

For example, the transferable-credential tuition programs exemption is likely one that most employers could utilize — but only if every one of the following five conditions is met:

  1. Separate contract
    The tuition-repayment agreement must be offered separately from the employment contract — it can’t be bundled with an offer letter or onboarding paperwork.
  2. Not a condition of employment
    The employee cannot be required to obtain the credential as a condition of getting or keeping their job.
  3. Clear, capped cost disclosure
    The contract must state the total repayment amount up front, and that amount cannot exceed the employer’s actual cost of the credential.
  4. Prorated repayment schedule
    If the employer requires a minimum service period, any repayment obligation must be prorated — proportionate to the time already served — and cannot include an accelerated payment schedule if the worker resigns.
  5. No repayment if terminated without misconduct
    The worker cannot be required to repay the tuition amount if they are terminated, except when the termination is for legally defined misconduct under Unemployment Insurance Code §1256.

4. Severe Penalties for Violations

Employers that violate AB 692 can face statutory damages of at least $5,000 per employee, plus attorney’s fees, costs, and injunctive relief. In short — a single improper agreement could become a costly class or PAGA-style lawsuit

5. Action Steps for Employers

  • Audit offer letters and training agreements for any repayment or “clawback” provisions.
  • Update relocation and reimbursement policies to ensure they don’t condition repayment on continued employment.
  • Train HR and management teams about the new restrictions before 2026.
  • Consult counsel before implementing tuition-assistance or credential-based programs to ensure compliance with the law’s narrow exceptions.

Bottom line:
AB 692 is another reminder that California strongly protects employee freedom to change jobs. Employers should remove any “stay-or-pay” provisions from their onboarding materials and agreements before January 1, 2026.

Governor Newsom just signed Senate Bill 617 into law on October 1, 2025, expanding California’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (Cal-WARN) Act.  As a reminder, the WARN Act requires employers to give 60-days’ notice before a mass layoff, plant closure, or relocation. In addition, employers must notify employees and both state and local representatives. This helps workers prepare for job loss, find new jobs, or train for new opportunities.  
This new law adds important content and coordination requirements for employers conducting mass layoffs, relocations, or terminations in California.

Here are five key takeaways for employers:

1. New Required Disclosures in Cal-WARN Notices

Under SB 617, employers must now include specific information in their 60-day advance notices for any mass layoff, relocation, or termination.
The notice must state whether the employer plans to coordinate services for affected employees through:

  • The local workforce development board (LWDB),
  • Another entity, or
  • No entity at all.

Regardless of coordination, the notice must also include:

  • The email and phone number for the relevant LWDB, and
  • The following required statement:

“Local Workforce Development Boards and their partners help laid off workers find new jobs. Visit an America’s Job Center of California location near you. You can get help with your resume, practice interviewing, search for jobs, and more. You can also learn about training programs to help start a new career.”

2. CalFresh Information Must Be Included

Employers must now include a description of California’s statewide food assistance program (CalFresh) in every Cal-WARN notice.
This means providing:

  • A short description of CalFresh,
  • The CalFresh benefits helpline, and
  • A link to the CalFresh website.

This new requirement is intended to ensure that displaced employees are aware of public assistance resources during a transition.

3. Employers Must Provide Their Own Contact Information

Each notice must include a functioning employer email and telephone number for employees and agencies to contact.
This seems minor, but it’s a new explicit requirement — and a simple item that could create compliance risk if omitted.

4. Coordination of Services Must Happen Within 30 Days

If an employer chooses to coordinate services through a local workforce development board or another entity, those services must be arranged within 30 days from the date the notice is issued.
This means employers need to identify the LWDB and plan any “rapid response” sessions early in the process — not at the last minute.

5. Effective January 1, 2026

The new law takes effect on  January 1, 2026.  In addition to the new content, remember that Cal-WARN continues to apply to employers with a “covered establishment” that employs or has employed in the preceding 12 months, 75 or more full and part-time employees. Generally, Cal-WARN applies when:

  • Plant closure affecting any amount of employees.
  • Layoff of 50 or more employees within a 30-day period regardless of the percentage of workforce.
  • Relocation of at least 100 miles affecting any amount of employees.

Failure to comply can result in back-pay liability and civil penalties.

Final Thoughts

SB 617 doesn’t change when Cal-WARN applies, but it does change how employers must communicate with employees and agencies during a layoff or closure.

Join Us for Our Upcoming Masterclass

Zaller Law Group will be hosting a masterclass on October 30, 2025, covering the new employment laws facing California employers in 2026, including SB 642 and other key updates signed by Governor Newsom.
We’ll break down what these changes mean in practice and provide actionable steps to stay compliant heading into the new year. Registration for the masterclass is here.

Governor Newsom just signed SB 642 into law, making big changes to California’s pay transparency and equal pay requirements. The law goes into effect January 1, 2026, and employers need to start preparing now.

For a full overview of the other employment bills signed and vetoed by the Governor impacting employers in 2026, you can read my earlier post here: New 2026 Employment Law Requirements in California: Key Bills Signed, Vetoed, and What’s Next. Zaller Law Group will also be hosting a webinar on October 30, 2025, covering SB 642 and other new employment laws for 2026 — details and registration link are included at the end of this post.

Here are five key updates California employers should know about SB 642:

1. “Pay scale” now means a good faith estimate of pay at hire

Employers must provide or post a realistic, good faith pay range reflecting what they actually expect to pay a new hire — not a broad range.
If you have 15 or more employees, that range must appear in all job postings.

2. Expanded definition of “wages” and “sex”

The bill clarifies that for Equal Pay Act purposes, “wages” and “wage rates” include all forms of pay — bonuses, stock options, benefits, travel reimbursements, and allowances.
“Sex” now tracks the definition under the Government Code, explicitly including gender identity and gender expression.

This ensures broader protection under California’s Equal Pay Act and increases the scope of what must be analyzed for pay equity.

3. Longer statute of limitations — up to six years of exposure

The time to bring an Equal Pay Act claim is now three years from the last date of the violation, and employees can recover for up to six years of pay disparity.

4. Recordkeeping and enforcement just got tougher

Employers must keep job title and wage history records for the duration of employment plus three years after separation.
The Labor Commissioner can inspect these records to determine if a pattern of wage discrepancy exists.
Penalties for failing to comply with pay scale posting rules range from $100 to $10,000 per violation, though first-time violators can avoid penalties by correcting postings.

5. Reminder of existing obligations under Labor Code section 432.3

Since January 1, 2018, when Labor Code section 432.3 was first adopted, California employers have been prohibited from relying on an applicant’s salary history information when determining whether to make an offer or what pay to offer.

While employers cannot ask about prior wage history, employees may voluntarily disclose how much they were paid in previous positions — but employers cannot rely on that information to set pay rates.

Upon a reasonable request by an applicant for a position — and upon request by a current employee — employers must provide the pay scale for the position.

Remember, employers cannot prohibit employees from discussing or disclosing their wages, or from refusing to agree not to disclose their wages under Labor Code sections 232(a) and (b). Employers also cannot require employees to refrain from discussing working conditions, or require them to sign an agreement restricting such discussions, under Labor Code section 232.5.

The Labor Commissioner’s FAQs interpreting section 432.3 clarify that employees may ask what other employees are paid, but employers are not required to provide that information. Employers should review those FAQs in the coming months to see if they are updated in light of SB 642.

Join Us for Our Upcoming Webinar

Zaller Law Group will be hosting a masterclass on October 30, 2025, covering the new employment laws facing California employers in 2026, including SB 642 and other key updates signed by Governor Newsom.
We’ll break down what these changes mean in practice and provide actionable steps to stay compliant heading into the new year. Registration for the masterclass is here.

California’s 2025 legislative session has officially wrapped, and Governor Gavin Newsom has made his final decisions on hundreds of bills sent to his desk before the October 13 deadline. For California employers, this year’s legislative package delivers another wave of significant workplace changes—spanning wage equity, paid family leave, worker classification, and expanded employee rights across multiple industries.

Below, we’ve summarized the final outcomes of the major employment law bills Governor Newsom acted on this session, along with brief descriptions of what each bill does.

My firm will be hosting a California employment law Masterclass on October 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., where we’ll break down what these new laws mean for employers in 2026—and highlight other key compliance updates to prepare for the year ahead.

Register here: Zaller Law Group Masterclass – California Employer Legislative Update: What’s at Stake in 2026

BillSummarySign or Veto?
SB 642Wage Equity: Would clarify the term “pay scale” to mean “the salary or hourly wage range that the employer reasonably expects to pay for the position up to hire.” It would also set the statute of limitations for Labor Code 1197.5 claims to three years and allow workers to recover wages for up to six years in pay equity claims, while extending the statute of limitations.  Signed
SB 261Labor Commissioner Penalties and Collections: Would require that the Labor Commissioner post on its website any unsatisfied awards against employers and would establish a civil penalty for employers that fail to pay a court judgment awarded for nonpayment of work performed.  Signed
SB 7No Robo Bosses Act: Would require employers using an “automated decision system” (ADS) in employment decisions to notify workers before and after use, would ban sole reliance on ADS for adverse actions, and would mandate human review in such cases. Would apply broadly and become enforceable in 2026, with civil penalties for violations.  Vetoed
SB 590Paid Family Leave – Designated Person: Would allow that, starting July 1, 2028, employees to take Paid Family Leave to care for a “designated person,” defined as someone related by blood or with a family-like relationship.Signed
AB 692Employment Restraint of Trade Contracts: Would ban many “stay-or-pay” contracts with workers, including training repayment agreements.Signed
AB 250Extended Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault / Harassment Claims: Would allow certain sexual assault claims previously time-barred to be filed from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 if a “cover-up” by an employer is alleged.Signed
SB 809Independent Contractors and Employee Vehicle Business Expense: Would clarify that owning a vehicle does not make a worker an independent contractor and would reiterate that employers must reimburse employees for using personal vehicles for work, and create a limited amnesty program for misclassified construction trucking employers.Signed
AB 858Rehiring and Retention of Displaced Workers: Would extend COVID-era right-to-rehire protections for hospitality workers to Jan 1, 2027, with DLSE enforcement extended beyond 2026 for prior violations.Signed
SB 703Ports: Truck Driver Independent Contractors: Would require trucking companies at the Ports of LA and Long Beach to certify compliance with tax and classification laws for employees and would mandate a reporting when 50% or more employees are replaced by independent contractors, with steep penalties for noncompliance or misrepresentation.Vetoed
SB 464Employer Pay Data Reporting: Would increase the number of job categories (from 10 to 23) required in employer pay data reports starting in 2027, would mandate separate storage of demographic data with penalties for non-filing, and would create a civil penalty for employers who fail to submit reports to the California Civil Rights Department.Signed
AB 1136Immigration and Work Authorization: Would require 5 days unpaid leave and reinstatement rights for employees involved in immigration proceedings or detention and would ban adverse actions based solely on immigration status or having been subject to immigration proceedings.Vetoed
SB 294The Workplace Know Your Rights Act: Would require a new annual written notice (starting February 1, 2026) informing workers of their rights, including around immigration and law enforcement, and would require that an employer notify an employee’s emergency contact if arrested or detained while at work.Signed
AB 1326Right to Wear A Mask: Would grant individuals the right to wear a medical-grade mask in public or at work for health-related reasons, with exceptions for safety, security, or emergency protocols.Vetoed
SB 513Personnel Records: Would expand the definition of personnel records to include training details (e.g. certifications, skills, provider, and duration) and would require employers to track and retain them.Signed
SB 355Judgment Debtor Employers: Would require, within 60 days of a final judgment being entered against an employer requiring payment to an employee or to the state, the judgment debtor employer to provide documentation to the Labor Commissioner that the judgment is fully satisfied, a certain bond has been posted, or the judgment debtor entered into an agreement for the judgment to be paid in installments and is in compliance with that agreement, with civil penalties for non-compliance.Vetoed
SB 764Chain Restaurants: Children’s Meals: Would require that chain restaurants (20+ locations under the same name) meet certain nutritional standards (calories, sodium, fruit/veg portions, etc.), and mark healthier options plainly.    Vetoed
SB 68Food Allergens Disclosures: Would require restaurants to have written labeling under or next to each item on the menu that contains any of the top 9 allergens.Signed
SB 648Tip Theft: Would authorize the Labor Commissioner to investigate and issue a citation or file a civil action for gratuities taken or withheld in violation of the Labor Code.Signed on July 30, 2025.

With these new laws taking effect over the coming months, California employers should begin reviewing their policies, training programs, and compliance systems now to stay ahead of the curve. Many of the changes—particularly those involving pay transparency, leave rights, and pay data reporting obligations—will require proactive planning and documentation. Our team at Zaller Law Group is here to help employers understand how these developments impact the workplace and to guide businesses through the steps needed to ensure compliance in 2026 and beyond.

As of October 1, 2025, California’s Civil Rights Council regulations under FEHA hold employers liable for discrimination arising from the use of automated decision systems (ADS) in hiring.  The use of AI or other automated tools does not shield employers from liability; decisions made through such systems are treated as the employer’s own actions.  Employers must now treat software used in the hiring process like any other component of their hiring process: subject to bias scrutiny, oversight, and documentation. We broke down what these regulations mean for California employers in an earlier post — you can read it here.

Here are five key issues employers using AI or other software for the recruiting and hiring process need to understand:

1. Inventory & classify all ADS tools in your hiring stack

What to do now:

  • Map every AI, algorithmic, or rule-based tool used in recruitment (resume filters, profile matching, assessment tests, video interview scoring, targeted job ad delivery, etc.).
  • For each, document the vendor, version, data sources, update frequency, logic (if available), and how it integrates with your human decision steps.
  • Ask vendors for their anti-bias testing protocols and any audit or validation data. Confirm whether they (or you) will carry forward the onus of proof under FEHA if a disparate impact claim arises.
  • Classify tools by risk: e.g. tools that reject candidates vs. tools that rank, suggest, or surface candidates.

Why this matters:
Under the new rules, “ADS” is broadly defined — it includes any computational process that “makes or facilitates human decision making regarding an employment benefit.” Even tools that may seem benign (e.g. targeted job ads) can be covered by the new regulations.  An employer that lacks a clear inventory of its automated systems cannot credibly demonstrate oversight or accountability in an audit.

2. Conduct (or plan) bias testing + human review overlay

What to do now:

  • For each ADS, run bias/disparate impact analyses. Examine whether outcomes differ systematically by protected class (race, gender, disability, etc.).
  • Document the testing methodology (quality, efficacy, recency, scope) and your corrective actions. The regulations treat this as relevant evidence or defense in discrimination claims.
  • Ensure every ADS-enabled “decision” has a human in the loop — that is, a trained reviewer who can override, audit, or interpret algorithmic recommendations.
  • Maintain a process for reasonable accommodations when an ADS evaluation could disproportionately affect a protected group (e.g. an assessment that measures reaction time may disadvantage applicants with certain disabilities).
  • If an ADS asks puzzle/games or challenges likely to elicit disability information, evaluate whether it constitutes a “medical or psychological inquiry” (now prohibited in that context).

Why this matters:
Employers will not get a carve-out by saying AI made the decision.  If an algorithm produces adverse impact and you do not have bias testing or human intervention documented, courts or regulators may view you as negligent.  The regulations do not require mandatory testing, but lack of testing is a gap in your defense.

3. Retain audit-ready records for at least four years

What to do now:

  • Update your document retention policies: You must preserve “ADS-related records” including inputs, outputs (scores/ranks), selection criteria, audit results, vendor documentation, override logs, etc.
  • Ensure retention is for at least four years from creation or from the personnel action date — whichever is later.
  • Consider requiring vendors to supply you with audit logs, decision rationale, and transparency into their data pipeline, with contractual obligations.
  • Secure the stored data (both to protect privacy and guard against tampering) — chain of custody matters.
  • If a complaint or investigation emerges, make sure your preservation kicks in immediately (i.e. do not auto-purge relevant records).

Why this matters:
Without comprehensive, tamper-evident documentation, your risk increases significantly.

4: Revisit vendor contracts & liability allocation

What to do now:

  • Consider adding contractual clauses requiring transparency, audit rights, notification of updates, liability limitations, indemnification regarding bias or discriminatory outcomes.
  • Review if vendors represent their models have undergone anti-bias testing.
  • Understand that under FEHA’s new rules, your vendor may be treated as an “agent” whose discriminatory outputs can be attributed to you.
  • Understand contractual access to raw data, pipeline architecture, and change logs so your team (or auditors) can evaluate future risks.

Why this matters:
Employer will not be able to use a defense that “the AI vendor mishandled it.” The law contemplates third-party accountability.

5: Train and communicate internally

What to do now:

  • Train your HR, recruiting, and decision-makers on the new definitions (ADS, proxy, agent) and implications under FEHA.
  • Update your hiring policies to include steps involving ADS review, override authority, recordkeeping, and accommodation paths.
  • Consider a transparency notice for applicants (though not yet mandated under these rules) explaining that algorithmic tools may assist in screening or evaluation.
  • Monitor developments in complementary state/federal AI/algorithm law (e.g. disclosure statutes, “right to explanation” bills).

Why this matters:
Compliance depends on execution. If your people don’t understand what to watch for or override, the best policies on paper may fail in practice.

As California’s 2025 legislative session comes to a close, employers are watching Sacramento with anticipation. Governor Gavin Newsom faces an October 13, 2025 deadline to either sign into law or veto dozens of bills passed by the Legislature. Many of these bills would impose new compliance obligations on California employers, expand employee rights, and create fresh enforcement tools for state regulators.

The measures touch nearly every corner of the workplace—from wage equity and paid family leave, to AI in hiring, to industry-specific protections for hospitality, trucking, and chain restaurants. In short, the Governor’s decisions will shape how employers operate in 2026 and beyond.

The Top Five Bills We Are Watching Most Closely

1. SB 642 – Wage Equity: Would clarify the term “pay scale” to mean “the salary or hourly wage range that the employer reasonably expects to pay for the position up to hire.” It would also set the statute of limitations for Labor Code 1197.5 claims to three years and allow workers to recover wages for up to six years in pay equity claims, while extending the statute of limitations.

2. SB 590 – Paid Family Leave – Designated Person: Would allow that, starting July 1, 2028, employees to take Paid Family Leave to care for a “designated person,” defined as someone related by blood or with a family-like relationship.

3. SB 7 – No Robo Bosses Act: Would require employers using an “automated decision system” (ADS) in employment decisions to notify workers before and after use, would ban sole reliance on ADS for adverse actions, and would mandate human review in such cases. Would apply broadly and become enforceable in 2026, with civil penalties for violations.

4. AB 250 – Extended Statute of Limitations for Sexual Assault / Harassment Claims: Would allow certain sexual assault claims previously time-barred to be filed from Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027 if a “cover-up” by an employer is alleged.

5. AB 692 – Employment Restraint of Trade Contracts: Would ban many “stay-or-pay” contracts with workers, including training repayment agreements.

Full Watch List: Other Employment (and some food-industry related) Bills Awaiting Governor Newsom’s Decision:

SB 261 – Labor Commissioner Penalties and Collections: Would require that the Labor Commissioner post on its website any unsatisfied awards against employers and would establish a civil penalty for employers that fail to pay a court judgment awarded for nonpayment of work performed.

SB 809 – Independent Contractors and Employee Vehicle Business Expense: Would clarify that owning a vehicle does not make a worker an independent contractor and would reiterate that employers must reimburse employees for using personal vehicles for work, and create a limited amnesty program for misclassified construction trucking employers.

AB 858 – Rehiring and Retention of Displaced Workers: Would extend COVID-era right-to-rehire protections for hospitality workers to Jan 1, 2027, with DLSE enforcement extended beyond 2026 for prior violations.

SB 703 – Ports: Truck Driver Independent Contractors: Would require trucking companies at the Ports of LA and Long Beach to certify compliance with tax and classification laws for employees and would mandate a reporting when 50% or more employees are replaced by independent contractors, with steep penalties for noncompliance or misrepresentation.

SB 464 – Employer Pay Data Reporting: Would increase the number of job categories (from 10 to 23) required in employer pay data reports starting in 2027, would mandate separate storage of demographic data with penalties for non-filing, and would create a civil penalty for employers who fail to submit reports to the California Civil Rights Department.

AB 1136 – Immigration and Work Authorization: Would require 5 days unpaid leave and reinstatement rights for employees involved in immigration proceedings or detention and would ban adverse actions based solely on immigration status or having been subject to immigration proceedings.

SB 294 – The Workplace Know Your Rights Act: Would require a new annual written notice (starting February 1, 2026) informing workers of their rights, including around immigration and law enforcement, and would require that an employer notify an employee’s emergency contact if arrested or detained while at work.

AB 1326 – Right to Wear A Mask: Would grant individuals the right to wear a medical-grade mask in public or at work for health-related reasons, with exceptions for safety, security, or emergency protocols.

SB 513 – Personnel Records: Would expand the definition of personnel records to include training details (e.g. certifications, skills, provider, and duration) and would require employers to track and retain them.

SB 355 – Judgment Debtor Employers: Would require, within 60 days of a final judgment being entered against an employer requiring payment to an employee or to the state, the judgment debtor employer to provide documentation to the Labor Commissioner that the judgment is fully satisfied, a certain bond has been posted, or the judgment debtor entered into an agreement for the judgment to be paid in installments and is in compliance with that agreement, with civil penalties for non-compliance.

SB 764 – Chain Restaurants: Children’s Meals: Would require that chain restaurants (20+ locations under the same name) meet certain nutritional standards (calories, sodium, fruit/veg portions, etc.), and mark healthier options plainly.

SB 68 – Food Allergens Disclosures: Would require restaurants to have written labeling under or next to each item on the menu that contains any of the top 9 allergens.

Already signed by the Governor: SB 648 – Tip Theft: Authorizes the Labor Commissioner to investigate and issue a citation or file a civil action for gratuities taken or withheld in violation of the Labor Code. This bill was signed by the Governor on July 30, 2025.

Our 4th Annual “Sign or Veto” Contest

To make this season of legislative suspense a little more fun, we invite you to participate in the 4th Annual Zaller Law Group “Sign or Veto” Contest. Here’s your chance to test your knowledge of California politics and workplace trends:

  • Review the list of key employment bills we’ve picked (with a few non-employment curveballs included).
  • Make your picks: Will Governor Newsom sign the bill into law, or exercise his veto power?
  • Submit your entry before Friday, October 10 at midnight.

Prizes:

  • Champion: Zaller Law Group Yeti cooler backpack
  • 2nd & 3rd place: Exclusive Zaller Law swag
  • All participants: Bragging rights for your California political and employment law expertise

How to Play:

  1. Register your predictions here.
  2. Submit your entry by October 10, 2025.
  3. If there are any ties, the order will be determined by time of entry with the earliest entry wining.

Winners will be announced after the Governor’s October 13 deadline!

Save the Date: Webinar on the New Laws – October 30, 2025

When: Thursday, October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. PT
What: Zaller Law Group attorneys will review which new Governor Newsom signed into law, and other key employment law updates for California employers in 2026.

Register here: Click to Register for the Webinar

Quick Story:
An HR lead recently ran a simple 30-minute spot audit and uncovered two issues—meal breaks were routinely starting late at one location, and a manager at another location was unsure whether employees needed to record 10-minute rest breaks. Small corrections, but they prevented what could have escalated into a costly PAGA claim, potentially putting millions of dollars at risk in litigation.

If you haven’t pressure-tested your 2025 payroll yet, here’s a fast, focused audit you can run this week:

Your 30-Minute Payroll Spot Audit

1. Meal/Rest Timing Sweep (10 min)
Pull a week of timecards. Run a quick check and at least confirm that meal periods start no later than the end of the 5th hour. Flag any late, short, or missed breaks.
Resource for more information: Five Compliance Reminders on Meal and Rest Breaks

2. Premium Pay Check (5 min)
For each non-compliant meal or rest break, make sure a premium payment is made to the employee and that it is recorded properly on their wage statement.
Resource for more information: Five Reasons Employers Consider Voluntarily Making Premium Payments

3. Expense Reimbursements (5 min)
Spot-check mileage logs and mobile stipends. Anyone using personal phones or vehicles for work should have proper reimbursements.
Resource for more information on personal cell phones: Five Lessons from Cochran v. Schwan’s Home Services

Resource for more information on mileage reimbursement: Mileage Reimbursement Considerations

4. Wage Statement Scan (5 min)
Review paystubs for required details: gross/net wages, legal entity name, total hours and rates, overtime, and other required information under Labor Code section 226.
Resource for more information: Wage Statements: Five Issues Employers Need to Review on a Regular Basis

5. Document the Fix (5 min)
Write down what you reviewed, what you found, and what you corrected. Even a brief note in Excel or your payroll system is enough to show good faith. This log matters for demonstrating “reasonable steps” if a PAGA claim ever comes your way.

Bottom Line

Thirty minutes this week could save you from a million-dollar headache next year. Don’t wait for a claim to force your audit—get ahead now.

California employers continue to face heavy scrutiny and litigation regarding their meal and rest break practices. Since the Brinker Restaurant Group v. Superior Court decision in 2012, courts have reaffirmed that compliance is measured by strict timing rules, not just having written policies in place. Here are five key reminders on the timing requirements and related obligations for meal and rest breaks in California:

1. Timing of Breaks

Meal Breaks
The Brinker decision makes it clear:

  • First meal break must begin no later than the end of the fifth hour of work (for example, 4 hours and 59 minutes into the shift).
  • Second meal break must begin no later than the end of the tenth hour of work.

Rest Breaks

  • 10 minutes rest for shifts from 3.5 to 6 hours
  • 20 minutes for shifts of more than 6 up to 10 hours
  • 30 minutes for shifts of more than 10 up to 14 hours, and so on.

Rest breaks should generally fall near the middle of work periods “insofar as practicable.” Employers should only deviate from this principle after carefully analyzing operational needs and documenting the rationale.

2. Rules Regarding Waiver of Breaks

Meal Breaks

  • Can generally only be waived if the shift is less than 6 hours (but employers need to be careful about permitting employees to waive breaks)
  • However, as long as employers effectively allow an employee to take a full 30-minute meal break, the employee can voluntarily choose not to take the break and this would not result in a violation (but again, employers must be able to establish that the employee voluntarily waived their break, which can be difficult without the proper documentation). The Supreme Court explained in Brinker, “The employer that refuses to relinquish control over employees during an owed meal period violates the duty to provide the meal period and owes compensation [and premium pay] for hours worked. The employer that relinquishes control but nonetheless knows or has reason to know that the employee is performing work during the meal period, has not violated its meal period obligations [and owes no premium pay], but nonetheless owes regular compensation to its employees for time worked.”

Rest Breaks

  • Employees may voluntarily skip rest breaks only if they were properly authorized and permitted to take them.
  • Employers must not pressure or discourage employees from taking rest breaks.

3. Timekeeping Requirements

  • Employers must record all meal periods taken.
  • Employers are not required to record rest breaks, but must still ensure they are authorized and permitted.

4. Complaint Procedure for Missed Breaks

Even with compliant policies, employers can still be liable if they knew or should have known that employees were missing breaks.

  • Have a clear and accessible reporting procedure for employees to notify the company if they could not take a meal or rest break.
  • A documented, effective complaint process can be critical in defending against claims that breaks were not provided.

5. No Rounding Meal Periods

In Donohue v. AMN Services LLC, the California Supreme Court held:

  • Time rounding is not allowed for meal periods.
  • Meal period records must show actual, precise time taken.

Even small amounts of rounding could cut into the guaranteed 30 minutes. The Court also held that time records that show a missed, short, or late meal break create a rebuttable presumption of a meal period violation. The court explained that, “Employers can rebut the presumption by presenting evidence that employees were compensated for noncompliant meal period or that they had in fact been provided compliant meal periods during which they chose to work.”

Looking Ahead: AI-Powered Compliance Tools

The attorneys at Zaller Law Group are currently developing AI-powered compliance software designed to help employers track and enforce wage and hour compliance—with a special focus on meal and rest break rules.

This ties directly into Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)’s 2024 reforms, which now reduce penalties for employers who can show they took “reasonable steps to comply” with the law:

  • 15% of the applicable penalties if reasonable steps were taken before receiving a PAGA notice or request for employment records
  • 30% of the applicable penalties if reasonable steps were taken within 60 days after receiving a PAGA notice

We are currently testing the software, but if you would like to join a waitlist to learn more when the software is available, submit your information here. 

Recently, while recording a podcast, I found myself talking about something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: how much harder HR is than people give it credit for.

We tend to see HR as “soft” compared to the other seats in the C-suite. CFOs, COOs, and CTOs have hard numbers and clear metrics. They work in a world where things are either right or wrong. But HR? HR lives in the gray.

And I’ve come to believe this: HR is more art than science.
That’s exactly what makes it so hard—and so undervalued.  This week’s Friday’s Five, explains why HR is so difficult (and undervalued):

1. HR Operates in the Messy Human World

Accounting and finance are governed by rules and logic. HR deals with human beings, which means emotions, personalities, conflicts, potential, and fear. There’s no formula for managing people. What worked brilliantly with one person may fail with another. It’s more like painting or composing music than solving math equations.

2. Hiring Is One of the Hardest—and Riskiest—Skills

It is widely known that highly experienced leaders are only about 50/50 when it comes to making successful hires. Why? Because interviews are theater. Candidates put forward their best selves, and your job is to see through the performance and predict how they will act under real pressure, on real teams, over real time.

That’s not a science. That’s pattern recognition, intuition, and sometimes luck—the hallmarks of art.

3. HR’s Wins Are Invisible

When HR does its job well, nothing dramatic happens. Culture is stable. People work well together. Turnover stays low. But these wins rarely show up on spreadsheets. Unlike revenue or expenses, you can’t point to a single line item that says “HR succeeded.”

HR’s impact is critical on an organization, but often invisible until it’s gone.

4. Finding the “Obvious” Is an Art

In Obvious Adams by Robert R. Updegraff, Adams becomes legendary not because he’s more analytical than everyone else, but because he sees what others overlook.

As he explains:

“Picking out the obvious thing pre-supposes analysis, and analysis pre-supposes thinking… They don’t gather all the facts and then analyze them before deciding what really is the obvious thing.”

And:

“I never stopped to think in those days whether a thing was obvious or not. I just did what occurred to me naturally after I had thought things over.”

That’s what makes it art.

It looks simple only after he says it — but seeing it requires a cultivated instinct. HR works the same way. The best people decisions rarely come from spreadsheets. They come from the hard, quiet work of observing patterns, understanding human behavior, and having the courage to trust your judgment.

5. HR Shapes the System Everyone Else Operates In

Every other C-suite role relies on having the right people in the right seats. HR creates that system. They build the culture that makes execution possible. They influence the trajectory of every hire, every promotion, every leader.

And yet—because their work is hard to quantify—they often don’t get the credit. They are judged on lagging indicators, which are often not valued until they are missing from the organization.

The Takeaway

We undervalue HR because we expect it to behave like a science, when it’s actually an art.And art is harder.

If you lead in HR—or support those who do—remember: you’re doing one of the hardest jobs in business. Just because it’s hard to measure doesn’t mean it’s not the most important.

And if you want a quick, powerful reminder of how to see the truths others miss, I highly recommend reading Obvious Adams — it’s one of the best short business books I’ve ever read, and I think every business executive should read it.