The California Court of Appeal recently held that an employer whose wage statements did not comply with section 226 of the California Labor Code was not subject to the heightened penalties imposed on employers who fail to provide wage statements or keep required records.
Continue Reading California Court of Appeal Declines to Apply Heightened Penalties to Wage Statement Violations

The West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved a draft Ordinance establishing a citywide minimum wage and guaranteed leave during a November 3, 2021 City Council meeting that ended on November 4, 2021. The draft Ordinance can be found here and the City also issued a press release detailing the draft Ordinance.

The draft Ordinance sets forth the following phased minimum wage schedule:

Effective Date 01.01.2022 07.01.2022 01.01.2023
Hotel Employees $17.64 Determined by Cost of Living Adjustment
Estimated to be: $18.31
No Change
Employers of 50 or More $15.50 $16.50 $17.50
Employers of Less than 50 $15.00 $16.00 $17.00


Continue Reading West Hollywood Establishes Citywide Minimum Wage and Guaranteed Leave Provisions

On September 22, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill No. 701 (“AB 701”), which makes it unlawful for employers to require nonexempt employees at warehouse distribution centers (“Covered Employee” or “Covered Employees”) to meet production quotas that prevent compliance with meal or rest periods, use of bathroom facilities (including reasonable travel time to and from bathroom facilities), or occupational health and safety laws (“Prohibitive Production Quota”). Employers are also prohibited from taking adverse action against Covered Employees for failing to meet a Prohibitive Production Quota. AB 701 will take effect January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”).

Continue Reading California Takes Aim at Productivity Quotas at Warehouse Distribution Centers

On July 15, 2021, the California Supreme Court decided Jessica Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel, LLC, S259172 (Cal. S.Ct. July 15, 2021). The question before the Court was “whether the Legislature intended ‘regular rate of compensation’ under section 226.7(c) to have the same meaning as ‘regular rate of pay’ under section 510(a), such that the calculation of premium pay for a noncompliant meal, rest, or recovery period, like the calculation of overtime pay, must account for not only hourly wages but also other nondiscretionary payments for work performed by the employee.” Id. at 1.
Continue Reading California Supreme Court Rules Meal and Rest Period Premium Pay Is Calculated in the Same Manner as Calculations for Overtime Regular Rate of Pay