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CALIFORNIA MID-YEAR MINIMUM WAGE RATE INCREASES

California minimum wageis currently $14.00/hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees and $15.00 for employers with 26 or more. Governor Newson hasprojectedan across-the-boards increase to $15.50/hour on January 1, 2023.

HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 2 AT THE STARTING LINE

Workplace policy manuals (handbooks) often include a progression of employee classifications, such as probationary/introductory, regular, full-time, part-time, temporary, leased, exempt from overtime, and non-exempt from overtime.

HANDBOOK HELPER EPISODE 1 TWO-WAY STREET

An employer should not underestimate the importance in confirming and preserving in writing "at-will" employment. Most states, includingCalifornia, permit the employment relationship to endat the will ofeither the employer or the employee at any time unless the parties have agreed otherwise. Ambiguity can thus put management at a significant disadvantage.

AVOID BLOWER BLOWBACK

While logic might suggest no need to reimburse an employee with unlimited minutes for business use of her or his phone, California follows different reasoning.

AVOIDING ACCESS DISTRESS

There are three Labor Code sections that direct such disclosures. Two have specified deadlines, one of those with limited room for extension. Those two also impose $750 each for non- or late-compliance.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 59 NO CONFINED SPACE CANARY

On investigating a worker's death at Valero Refinery of Benicia,Cal/OSHAcitedthe refinery and three contractors $1,753,375 for willful and serious safety violations. Serious violations are hazards posing "a realistic possibility . . . of death or serious physical harm." Willful violations are failures to "remediate a known hazard" or knowing violations of the law.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 58 DON'T MESS WITH THE HAIRLESS

Bald men - at least in the United Kingdom - can seek recourse against unwelcome workplace jokes or taunts about their follicly-challenged appearance.

PROPER FASHION POLICING

To promote business image, California employers maydictate reasonable workplace dress and grooming standards. Yet, managers cannot be dictators if certain protected worker preferences are in play.

CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 57 CAR WASH DUSTED

The California Labor Commissioner has again looked under the hood of the car wash industry, citing Torrance Car Wash more than $800,000 for wage theft violations affecting 35 workers, including minimum wage, overtime and meal and rest breaks.