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For the first time in decades, voters rejected an effort to raise the minimum wage in California. The ballot measure would have increased the state’s minimum wage from $16 to $18 per hour by the year 2026. If passed, it would have been the highest minimum wage in the nation. Currently, the state’s minimum wage for all workers is $16 per hour. Fast food workers in the state now make $20 per hour. Healthcare workers will see their minimum wage rising to $25/hour over the next decade, thanks to a law Governor Newsom signed in 2023.

If you are like many workers in California, you rely on the financial boost you receive from annual bonuses. While annual bonuses can help put some cash or a check in your pocket, it is critical to understand the details of bonuses. Our employment lawyers would like to share several important facts about annual bonuses.

“It’s important to my family that I take time off for this religious event, but my boss insists I work. Is that legal?” Our employment lawyer hears this question more often than you might think – most employers are willing to accommodate the religious liberties of their workers, but a few are not. The short answer is that it is not legal to deny time off for religious purposes in California.

People who leave prison deserve a fair chance to become productive citizens, and gainful employment is one of the best ways to rebuild a normal life. After all, someone with and without conviction history must support themselves and their families with a regular income. Working also helps those with conviction histories re-establish and strengthen their ties with the community. Each of these reduces recidivism and improves mental health.

Freelance workers provide valuable goods and services to both small and large businesses. A study by Upwork found that 64 million people in the United States, or about 38 percent of the workforce, performed freelance work in 2023. These workers added about $1.27 trillion in annual earnings to the economy.

Employment law firm D.Law recently served as a sponsor of the California Lawyers Association’s 14th Annual Advanced Wage & Hour Conference and 40th Anniversary of the CLA’s Labor and Employment Law Section.

California has never allowed slavery. In fact, California’s constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude – except as punishment for a crime. In other words, the state can force prisoners to work and for very little money. Some prison workers make as little as 8 cents an hour to perform forced labor. Voters will have the opportunity to end this practice in November 2024.

Employment law firm D.Law recently served as a sponsor of the California Lawyers Association’s 14th Annual Advanced Wage & Hour Conference and 40th Anniversary of the CLA’s Labor and Employment Law Section.