As summer approaches, California employers should remember that it’s time to review their workplace violence prevention plans and conduct their annual workplace violence prevention training.

As a reminder, Labor Code section 6401.9 requires employers to review the effectiveness of their workplace violence prevention plans at least annually, after a workplace violence incident, and whenever a…

California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 692 took effect on January 1, 2026, impacting repayment and “stay-or-pay” agreements.  For a summary of the limitations and requirements stemming from this law, please see our earlier blog post.  California employers should already be evaluating offer letters, bonus agreements, training repayment provisions, tuition arrangements, and other documents that impose…

Many cities across California have adopted higher minimum wage and benefit requirements for hotel employers. The City of Los Angeles raised its wages for hotel and airport workers last year in advance of the Olympics. Many of these local ordinances increase in July.

As such, hotel employers should verify they are ready for the requirements…

Costa Mesa has passed an ordinance that regulates staffing for grocery and drug retailers that operate self-checkout stations. The measure requires employee staffing and supervision of self-checkout, restricts certain transactions at self-checkout, and requires customer signage. It is similar to an ordinance passed by the City of Long Beach last year.

Costa Mesa’s ordinance takes…

As the situation in the Middle East progresses, and National Guard and Reservists are called to serve, employers will likely have employees who require leave of absence to fulfill their obligations to the military. While under federal law, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) guarantees the rights of military service members to…

California is considering changes to its workplace inspection rules that would expand who may accompany inspectors during on-site Cal/OSHA inspections. Cal/OSHA has published a proposed rulemaking and will have a public hearing on April 1, 2026. It is also accepting written comments through that date. Written comments may be submitted through that date to walkaroundrule@dir.ca.gov.…

California generally uses the strict “ABC Test” to determine if a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Under the ABC Test, a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the hiring company proves that the worker should instead be classified as an independent contractor. The ABC Test has been codified into law…