As we advised in February 2022, Governor Newsom signed a bill, SB 114, requiring employers with 26 or more employees to provide up to 80 hours of Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (“SPSL”) for specified COVID-19-related reasons.Read more
Category Archives: Employment Law Updates
In Win For Employers, California Arbitration Agreements Can Be Mandated as a Condition of Employment (For Now)
Employers generally consider arbitration to be a more favorable forum for deciding disputes than litigating in court, though the costs to arbitrate are expensive. For one, juries who find against employers tend to be more generous in their awards than arbitrators. Second, arbitration clauses can include class action waivers, making it hard or impossible for employees to bring class action lawsuits. For these reasons, employers have increasingly required employees to sign mandatory arbitration clauses.Read more
Testing Requirements Rescinded for Health Care Personnel in California
For the past year, the California Department of Public Health has mandated that all health care personnel in healthcare facilities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they document that they have religious or medical grounds for an exemption. Read more
Increases in Local Minimum Wages and IRS Mileage Rate Coming July 1, 2022
Local Minimum Wages
Employers checking to make sure they pay minimum wage can’t just rely on complying with California minimum wage standards. As we reminded you on December 8, 2021, many local jurisdictions have enacted their own minimum wage rules.Read more
CalSavers Deadline and New Ruling on Meal Periods
CalSavers Deadline:
The June 30, 2022, deadline for small employers to register with CalSavers is only five weeks away.
What is CalSavers?
California is Raising the State’s Minimum Wage January 1, 2023
At present, state minimum wage in California is $15 per hour for companies with 26 or more employees and $14 per hour for companies with 25 or fewer employees.
On May 12, 2022, Governor Newsom announced that because inflation is projected to increase by 7.6% for the 2022 fiscal year, California’s minimum wage will increase to $15.50 per hour for all employees, regardless of employer size effective January 1, 2023.
With the minimum wage increasing to $15.50 in 2023, employers should be aware that it will affect the following employees:Read more
CDPH and LA County Relax Indoor Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Persons
The CDPH and Los Angeles County have updated their rules to allow fully vaccinated persons to enter indoor businesses without wearing masks under certain circumstances.Read more
The Return of Statewide Covid-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and the End of the Statewide Mask Mandate
It’s been a busy week at the Governor’s office …
1. The return of statewide COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave
On February 9, 2022, Governor Newsom signed SB-114, which brings back COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave (“SPSL”) through September 30, 2022.