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
As we move deeper into 2025, it’s the perfect time for California employers to return to the fundamentals. With ever-evolving employment laws and aggressive enforcement—especially around wage and hour issues—getting the basics right can mean the difference between smooth operations and costly litigation.
As a preview to our upcoming webinar, “Wage and Hour Back
The start of 2024 is the perfect time for companies to conduct a California employment law audit to ensure policies are compliant, managers are properly trained, and the company is maintaining the required records for the necessary length of time. Here are five topics to review in conducting an audit and a few suggested questions
This week’s Friday’s Five: a curated collection of must-watch videos on our YouTube channel for all California employers. Stay informed and discover the valuable insights you need to navigate the intricacies of the state’s employment landscape:
1. Exempt or non-exempt?
2. Meal and rest break basics
3. Culture fit happens in hiring
As California employers already know, noncompliance with the numerous employment regulations can result in serious legal consequences, monetary penalties, and damage to an organization’s reputation. One of the most effective ways for employers to ensure compliance with employment laws is by using checklists. Checklists are useful tools that can help employers keep track of their
Merry Christmas! With the end of the year, it is a perfect time for companies to conduct a California employment law practices audit to ensure that policies are compliant, managers are properly trained, and the company is maintaining the required records for the necessary length of time. Here are five topics to review in conducting
The Labor Code requires that an employer who “fails to provide a meal or rest or recovery period . . . shall pay the employee one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation for each workday that the meal or rest or recovery period is not provided.” What does “regular rate
A common question posed to me this past week was what types of lawsuits should employers be concerned about once the economy begins to reopen. I figured that the California economy is slowly reopening, so I should start writing my Friday’s Five lists again – so here are the top five areas of concern I
In April 2019, a jury in a California federal court awarded plaintiffs over $6 million in damages for missed meal breaks. Hamilton et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. et al. (Case No. 5:17-cv-01415-AB-KK). The case involved 5,000 employees who worked at Walmart’s fulfillment center in Chino, California. Plaintiffs brought a class action against Walmart alleging
With the start of 2019, I’m writing a series of posts covering employment law areas that employers should audit on a routine basis. The first two articles covered hiring practices and records retention practices. This post covers five wage and hour considerations that every California employer should review on a routine basis:
1. Payroll