H-1B visas have been in the news this last week, beginning with a Presidential Proclamation creating a new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions, as... The post New $100,000 Fee for H-1B Visas first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
What is happening with the fall protection standard that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has been working on since 2019? The... The post Revised Rule on ‘Floor Openings’ Fall Protection Takes Effect Oct. 1 first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
I recently hired a transgender employee. Some employees have told me that using pronouns which don’t align with someone’s biological sex goes against their religious... The post Best Ways to Handle Coworker Concerns about Transgender Employee first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
In late August 2025, the City of Long Beach approved a new ordinance implementing self-service checkout staffing requirements in certain retail settings. Effective September 21,... The post Long Beach Adopts Self-Checkout Staffing Ordinance first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
In late June 2025, a referendum petition challenging Los Angeles City’s hotel and airport worker minimum wage ordinance was filed with the Los Angeles City... The post Los Angeles City Hotel, Airport Worker Minimum Wage Increase Now in Effect, Affects Santa Monica Hotel Workers first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
Recently, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court ruling for Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue (SRFR), finding it didn’t violate Title VII... The post Employer Didn’t Violate Title VII When It Denied Vaccine Accommodation first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
After the 2024 Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) reform, the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) published frequently asked questions (FAQs), including information on who can... The post New Flow Charts Added in PAGA FAQs Update first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
A CalChamber-led coalition of business groups, including local chambers of commerce, has stopped a Cost Driver bill that would have exposed employers to a new 30 percent penalty... The post Stopped: New Employer Penalty, Burdensome Changes to Claims Process first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
Can I terminate an employee who is “not a good fit” in their first few weeks? What information should be in a disciplinary warning? What... The post Increase Your Confidence Disciplining, Terminating California Employees first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
We terminated an employee, and she has filed a claim for unemployment benefits. We want to fight her claim because she was fired for falsifying... The post ‘Misconduct’ Not Automatic Cause for Denying Unemployment Benefits first appeared on HRWatchdog.| HRWatchdog
After several delays, the long-awaited California health care worker minimum wage law takes effect on October 16, 2024. When the California Department of Health Care Services submitted a notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee that data retrieval necessary for Medi-Cal increases began on October 1, it created a 15-day window for the health care| HRWatchdog -
On January 1, 2025, the overtime exemption rates for computer software employees and licensed physicians will increase — so employers need to make sure that these employees’ hourly rate is not less than the increased specified rates below in order to be exempt from overtime requirements. Specifically, for computer software employees: The minimum hourly rate| HRWatchdog -
For the first time, a plurality of California voters has rejected a statewide minimum wage increase, reflecting heightened concerns about the affordability of everyday life. Proposition 32 would have raised California’s minimum wage to $18 per hour effective in 2025 for employers of more than 25 people and effective in 2026 for others. The California Secretary| HRWatchdog -
We are a fast food restaurant covered by the recent minimum wage law for fast food restaurant employees. Does this law also affect the minimum salary we must pay to our exempt managers? Yes, the recent minimum wage law hike for fast food chain workers also has a substantial impact on the minimum salary required| HRWatchdog -
California’s health care worker minimum wage gets delayed again — with a few possible start dates depending on certain circumstances. In 2023, Governor Gavin Newsome signed SB 525, which required certain health care facilities to pay a special minimum wage to their employees starting June 1, 2024. Then, on the certain subsequent June 1, that| HRWatchdog -
Instead of the beginning of the year, several California cities and counties implement their local minimum wage rate increases on July 1. California employers with employees working in these jurisdictions should be prepared for these new mid-year local minimum wage rates going into effect. Effective July 1, 2024, these localities will increase their minimum wage to:| HRWatchdog -
Beginning April 1, 2024, the minimum wage for fast food restaurant employees will increase to $20 per hour. Fast food restaurant employers must ensure they’re not only paying all employees accurately but also posting the required notices in each business location and job site where employees can easily see and read them. Last year, when| HRWatchdog -
On July 17, 2023, the California Supreme Court issued a significant ruling around the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA), which authorizes “an aggrieved employee” to bring a civil action against an employer on behalf of themselves and other current or former employees, acting as a proxy or agent of the state. The July| HRWatchdog -
In a win for California employers, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that individual claims under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) can be compelled to arbitration if the employee signed a valid arbitration agreement to that effect (Viking River Cruises v. Moriana, 596 U.S. __ (June 15, 2022)). Specifically, the Supreme Court ruled that| HRWatchdog -
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Creating and updating a workplace violence prevention plan can feel overwhelming, but CalChamber’s Workplace Violence Prevention (WVP) Support service makes it feel manageable. Our WVP Support service is designed to guide you step-by-step through California’s recent workplace violence prevention requirements. You’ll work one-on-one with an employment law expert who will guide you through CalChamber’s Workplace| HRWatchdog -
Many California jurisdictions are ringing in the new year with local minimum wage increases so California employers should double check the local minimum wage(s) in jurisdictions where their employees work and make any necessary adjustments by January 1 to ensure compliance. Here’s a breakdown of the local minimum wage rate increases across the state: Belmont:| HRWatchdog -
On Thursday, August 1, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2025, California’s minimum wage will increase from $16 per hour to $16.50 per hour for all employers, regardless of size. Per California’s Labor Code, once the state’s minimum wage reaches $15 per hour — which occurred January 1, 2023| HRWatchdog -
Using “headless” Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions as a tool for plaintiffs to avoid arbitration of their individual PAGA claims has been significantly undermined with a recent California Court of Appeal decision. In Leeper v. Shipt, Inc. (B339670, December 31, 2024), the court rejected the plaintiff’s argument that her PAGA action couldn’t be compelled| HRWatchdog -
In a recent case, the California Supreme Court limited a PAGA plaintiff’s ability to intervene in another PAGA action and object to a settlement.| HRWatchdog
In this episode of The Workplace podcast, we discuss the requirements of California’s new workplace violence regulation/standard, SB 553.| HRWatchdog
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We discuss the common questions, practical challenges and lessons employers have been experiencing as they implement workplace violence prevention programs.| HRWatchdog
CalChamber employment law experts discuss the recent PAGA reform and provide compliance best practices, including reasonable steps to limit exposure.| HRWatchdog
In a recent court ruling, California's paid sick leave law allows an employee to bring a Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) claims against their employer| HRWatchdog
The California Supreme Court says the Legislature’s overall Private Attorneys’ General Act (PAGA) design exempted public entities from its PAGA penalties.| HRWatchdog
Is there an “official” document stating that meal breaks must start 4 hours and 59 minutes into an employee’s eight-hour shift?| HRWatchdog
California's worker classification laws continue to develop, most recently in state court where a judge held California’s Proposition 22 unconstitutional.| HRWatchdog
In this podcast, we discuss Prop 22 passing, which classifies app-based drivers as independent contractors, and what that means for California employers.| HRWatchdog
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The California Supreme Court ruled Proposition 22 is constitutional — classifying certain app-based rideshare, delivery drivers as independent contractors| HRWatchdog
New PWFA regulations are effective and California employers need to be aware of several notable PWFA provisions different from California law.| HRWatchdog
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved a final rule that effectively bans workplace non-compete agreements.| HRWatchdog