After more than twenty years defending California employers, I have seen a consistent pattern: even companies with sophisticated systems struggle with one of the most fundamental compliance obligations in California employment law—maintaining, accessing, and analyzing employee time records. These challenges are not merely operational inconveniences. They routinely lead to unnecessary legal exposure, inflated PAGA penalties
As we move toward 2026, California employers—especially in hospitality—are navigating one of the most complex wage-and-hour landscapes in the country. The 2024 PAGA reform brought meaningful relief, but only for employers who take their compliance obligations seriously and can prove it.
At the same time, technology and AI are beginning to transform what compliance
As the holiday season approaches, it’s a perfect time for California employers to revisit their policies on holiday leave, scheduling, and pay practices. Last week, we covered key vacation considerations for the busy season. This week, we’re focusing on five important reminders to help ensure compliance and smooth operations as the year winds down.
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The Supreme Court blocked the Biden administration from enforcing its sweeping vaccine-or-test requirements for large private companies, but allowed a vaccine mandate to stand for medical facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid payments. In this YouTube short, I briefly discuss how this will effect California employers.
Additional information about the Cal/OSHA ETS can be
On December 16, 2020, the EEOC issued guidance on employer-mandated COVID-19 vaccinations. The requirement by employers for employees to receive vaccinations raises many issues dealing with privacy, the extent of control employers have over employees, and workplace safety, among others. Here are five issues employers should understand about the new EEOC guidance:
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