Figuring out when last checks are due for temporary / staffing agency workers whose assignments have ended can be confusing. Some argue that each assignment, no matter how brief, represents a separate employment requiring the worker’s last check to be paid immediately at the end of each assignment as if they were terminated. Others argue…

In La Kimba Bradsbery et al. v. Vicar Operating, Inc. (2025), the California Court of Appeal made a significant ruling that affects employee meal breaks across the state. The court held that California employers can require employees to sign prospective, written waivers of meal periods for shifts between five and six hours, provided these waivers…

California workers who sue their employers for unpaid wages just got a major boost in the courts. In a groundbreaking decision, the California Court of Appeal confirmed in Chavez v. California Collision, LLC (2024) 107 Cal.App.5th 298 that employees cannot be punished with court costs just because they rejected a settlement offer and went on…

A bill introduced in the California Assembly in February 2025 aims to strengthen enforcement of unpaid wage judgments against employers. Assembly Bill 485 (AB 485), introduced by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, would specifically target employers who operate under state-issued licenses or permits. Current Enforcement Mechanisms Under existing law, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE)—led by…

In an effort to combat wage theft and improve enforcement in Santa Clara County and across California, State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) introduced Senate Bill 261 (SB 261) in February 2025. Sponsored by the County of Santa Clara, the proposed legislation seeks to enhance legal mechanisms for workers seeking to recover unpaid wages and impose…

In February 2025, a bill introduced in the California Senate aims to strengthen enforcement against employers who fail to pay workers their legally owed wages. Senate Bill 355 (SB 355), authored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), would grant the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) the authority to suspend or revoke driver’s licenses and vehicle…

In February of 2025, California State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 310, a bill aimed at improving workers’ access to justice when employers pay their wages late or not at all. Currently, workers typically file wage claims with the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) or file Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) representative lawsuits. However,…