California Legal Blog – A Deep Dive Into Issues That Affect Your Life

Not Getting Paid Reimbursements? — California Labor Code 2802 ViolationsWatch this video on YouTube California Labor Code section 2802 requires employers to reimburse their workers for business expenses. Those business expenses include anything you spend in the discharge of your job duties or to follow your employer’s instructions. If you are not reimbursed for these …

In California, a split shift is a work day that is interrupted by unpaid time off work that is not a meal break. You have a split shift if you work in the morning, are given several hours off, and then work again in the evening. You may be entitled to a shift split premium …

Is "Tip Pooling" Legal in California? Top Labor Law Attorney ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube Tip pooling is lawful in California so long as the pool does not include managers who have the authority to hire or fire you. Managers can only join the tip pool if they do the same work as you. Employers can …

In California, you are considered a full-time employee if you work 40 or more hours in a week.1 This entitles you to certain workplace benefits. However, some federal laws define “full-time work” in a way that requires fewer hours on the job. Under these laws, you could be entitled to healthcare or retirement benefits without …

In most states, employers can never withhold tips or deduct wages based on the amount of tips earned, unless it is for a credit card fee or a tip pool. This is regardless of whether the employer takes a tip credit. Managers and supervisors can only keep tips that they directly and solely earned, and …

California’s salary transparency law requires many employers with 15 or more employees to include a pay range in their job postings. It also allows you to request a pay range for your own position. Employers have to provide state regulators with data about the pay they offer. If the law is violated, you can file …

In California, employers are legally required to include certain information on the pay stubs they issue to workers. This is to ensure that wages, deductions, and payee information are correct and comply with state law. If any information is missing or incorrect, it can lead to a wage-and-hour lawsuit. Workers also have a right to inspect their payroll records. What has …

Most nurses do get paid overtime. As a nurse, you are entitled to 1.5 times your regular rate of pay for every hour you work past 40 hours in a 7-day period. However, some nurses – especially registered nurses – may be considered exempt employees. As an exempt employee, you are generally not entitled to overtime …

You can request your personnel file from a former employer by contacting them, often in writing, and demanding access to the file. Employers are legally required to maintain records about your time at work. You generally have a right to review these records. Your personnel files can be valuable evidence if you have suffered a …

What Is the Minimum Wage for Servers in California?Watch this video on YouTube In California, the minimum wage for servers in 2025 is $16.90 per hour. In some cities and counties, the minimum wage is higher. Unlike in some other states, servers and other workers in California are entitled to the minimum wage in addition …

As of January 1, 2026, to be considered an exempt employee in the U.S., a worker must be paid a minimum salary of $684 per week, or $35,568 per year. Exempt workers in California, meanwhile, must be paid a salary that is at least twice the state’s minimum wage. The 2026 California minimum wage is $16.90 …

Commission-Based Pay Laws in California – Know Your RightsWatch this video on YouTube Commission-based pay is workplace compensation based on an employee’s sales productivity. It can be tied to the overall quantity of sales or the value of the things sold. The commission agreement sets out how your particular commission pay is generally calculated. State and …

In California, employers are required to fully reimburse you when you use your personal vehicles for business purposes. In total, there are 4 ways to calculate your reimbursement: Lump-sum payments, Actual mileage, Actual expenses, or A mixture of fixed and variable rates. Many employers adopt the IRS’s reimbursement rates, which go by actual mileage, as …

Warehouse workers often face significant wage and hour issues in the workplace. 5 of the most common are: minimum wage protections, overtime pay, payments for rest and meal breaks, being required to work off the clock, and receiving unpaid wages after termination. These concerns are growing more and more important as large companies, like Amazon …

How many hours is "part-time"? Key information every part-time employee needs to knowWatch this video on YouTube California does not have a state employment law that defines part-time work as being less than a certain number of hours. Instead, it is generally up to the employer to define what “part-time” means. The Labor Market Information Division …

Reducing or Taking Away Sales Commissions – "It is legal in California?" Top Labor Attorney ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube The general rule is that California employers cannot take away wage payments.1 This includes sales commissions that have been earned.2 However, employers can carve out exceptions to this rule in the commission agreement, which is …

California Employee Rights — Rules Every Employee NEEDS to knowWatch this video on YouTube Ten of the most important rights that you have under California employment law include: Overtime pay, Meal and rest breaks, Anti-discrimination rights, Protection from sexual harassment, Family and medical leave, Minimum wages, Protection from workplace retaliation, Workplace safety and privacy, Sick …

Is “Marital Status” Considered a Protected Class in California?Watch this video on YouTube In California, marital status is a protected class under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). This means that employers cannot discriminate against you based on your marital status. If you are fired, demoted, passed over, harassed, or otherwise retaliated against based on …

What Is an “Order Decision or Award (ODA) of the Labor Commissioner”? — Top Labor Attorney ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube In California, the Order, Decision or Award (ODA) of the Labor Commissioner is the ruling of the hearing officer in a wage claim, often for wage theft. ODAs are issued after the wage claim …

Is California a “Right-to-Work” State? Top Labor Lawyer ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube California is not a “right-to-work” state. Right-to-work states make it unlawful to require employees to join a union or pay union dues. Attempts to implement such legislation in California have failed. Therefore, private California employers may require you to join a union …

1099 Independent Contractor vs W2 Employee — "Can I sue my boss if they misclassify me?"Watch this video on YouTube In California, if you report your income on a Form 1099, you are an independent contractor, while if you report it on a W-2 form, you are an employee. Payroll taxes are automatically withheld if …

What Are the Overtime Rules for California Hospital Workers? — Top Labor Law Attorney ExplainsWatch this video on YouTube As a hospital worker in California, you may be subject to special overtime rules. If you are classified as an exempt worker, you are not entitled to overtime (time-and-a-half) pay unless your employer chooses to provide …