Intro to California Labor Laws

The state minimum wage in California is $16.90 per hour with some exceptions. 

Some California cities and counties have their own wage requirements that exceed California’s state-wide minimum wage. Employers with potentially impacted employees should review both state and local requirements. Please check the references linked below for additional minimum wage requirements across localities.

California also has overtime requirements that exceed federal requirements, including requiring overtime for eligible employees who exceed 8 hours of work in a day, among others.

References: 

• California Minimum Wage(opens in a new tab)

• Overtime(opens in a new tab)

• Minimum Wage Tracker(opens in a new tab)

• US City and County Minimum Wage Ordinances(opens in a new tab)

The minimum salary threshold in California for eligible employees under the administrative, executive, or professional exemption is $1,352/week.

References: 

• Administrative Exemption(opens in a new tab) 

• Executive Exemption(opens in a new tab)

• Professional Exemption(opens in a new tab)  

In California, employees who work more than five hours are entitled to a 30-minute paid meal break, unpaid for nonexempt employees. A second 30-minute meal break is required for employees who work over 10 hours a day. Additionally, for every four hours worked, employees must be given a paid 10-minute break.

References: 

• California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Meal Periods(opens in a new tab)

• California DIR Rest Periods / Lactation Accommodation(opens in a new tab)

Employers in California must provide a reasonable amount of break time, which can overlap with existing breaks, for employees to pump milk. Lactation breaks, unless overlapping with existing required rest periods, are unpaid. Refusal to provide lactation breaks may result in employee compensation equaling an hour of regular pay for each violation. 

References:

• Lactation Accommodation(opens in a new tab)  

• California DIR Rest Periods / Lactation Accommodation(opens in a new tab)