California employers need to review their practices and policies to ensure compliance with the various local minimum wage increases taking effect across California on July 1, 2023.  Here are five items employers should consider prior to the July 1 deadline:

1. Ensure the company understands which city and county they are located within.

Many cities

There is a lot to report on a state and on the Los Angeles local level as we start February 2023.  This Friday’s Five covers updates on Cal/OSHA ETS, and LA City and County supplemental paid sick leave updates and newly announced minimum wages:

1. Los Angeles City COVID-19 supplemental paid Sick leave (SPSL) expires

On May 12, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that the state minimum wage could increase to $15.50 per hour on January 1, 2023 due to inflation.  However, many California employers are already facing minimum wage increases much earlier – as many local jurisdictions throughout California are raising their minimum wage rates on July 1, 2022. 

On January 26, 2021, Los Angeles County extended the Los Angeles County COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Ordinance to continue “until two weeks after the expiration of the COVID-19 local emergency as ratified and declared by the Board.”  The new ordinance also retroactively applies to businesses starting on January 1, 2021.  The new ordinance differs

Many essential businesses operating in Los Angeles are asking what if any obligations do they have in regards to customer face coverings coming to their businesses for goods and services.  As explained below, the confusion stems from the County’s and City’s often contradictory orders and guidance issued on this topic.

County of Los Angeles

The

The City of Los Angeles recently assessed Carl’s Jr. Restaurants $1.45 million in fines for violation of the City’s minimum wage law ordinance.  The City sought these penalties against Carl’s Jr. for allegedly failing to pay 37 employees the applicable Los Angeles minimum wage rate of $10.50 per hour from July 1, 2016 to