California Employment Law Overview
This is a sample of the type of content on HRCalifornia, California’s #1 resource on employment law.
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Each day, California employers look to CalChamber and HRCalifornia for advice about pressing California employment laws and HR issues, such as sexual harassment and employee compensation law. It can be difficult for employers both large and small to navigate California's complex legal requirements. Through HRCalifornia, we focus on helping our members create effective human resources policies and resolve human resources issues in a manner that conforms to employment law in California.
This California employment law overview provides insight into the HR topics that our members most frequently contact us about. These introductory articles - drawn from the HRCalifornia Library - are not intended to provide complete compliance information. If you need additional support, subscribe to HRCalifornia today. You will receive full access to the HRCalifornia HR Library and regular California employment law updates. CalChamber Preferred and Executive members also get unlimited access to our Labor Law Helpline.
California Employment Law and HR Topics
HRCalifornia provides access to California employment law resources to help you provide the appropriate advice to your California employees and to help you and your human resources team develop and implement appropriate workplace policies.
California Labor Law: Where to Begin
Working in human resources in the state of California requires knowledge of a wide variety of HR topics. In addition to understanding employment law in California, human resources professionals must create company policies, communicate those policies to employees, deal with hiring and termination and handle employee benefits.
Helping You Understand California Employment Law on HRCalifornia
Trying to understand California labor law can be overwhelming, but as a member of HRCalifornia, you can find the information you need all in one place. Our online law library is conveniently organized by the topics that are most important to human resources professionals, including benefits, compensation, discrimination, health and safety, time off and more. Whenever you need to know what the minimum compliance is for any HR topic or simply want a better understanding of California labor law, you can find it in the law library.
Keeping track of all HR topics can be overwhelming. At HRCalifornia, you'll find many required forms and checklists you need to help you handle any HR issue. The CalChamber Store offers training and products that can help every human resources department stay current on California labor laws.
Top California Labor Law Issues
The topics below cover some of the most popular areas for which our members search. If you want more information on each topic, just click on the topic name.
How to ensure that your nonexempt employees are receiving proper California overtime pay.
How to determine whether an individual is an independent contractor and if you are in compliance with laws governing independent contractors.
Use this guide to determine which of your California employees are considered exempt or nonexempt under California law.
Meal and rest break compliance continues to be the source of a great deal of litigation for California employers. Understanding California’s meal and rest breaks requirements is extremely important for all California employers.
Calculating travel time can be challenging. Learn more about this important element of paying and scheduling your California employees.
How to ensure that your business is in compliance with both federal and California law regarding medical or family leave.
It is essential that you understand what constitutes sexual harassment and take steps to prevent and stop harassment in the workplace.
California employment law requires all employers to carry workers' compensation insurance. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities, as well as those of your employees.
Why you need a comprehensive employee handbook to inform your employees of their rights and responsibilities using required HR policies.
Although employers have rights regarding drug testing, tests must be properly performed. Learn more about California employee drug testing under California law.
To avoid lawsuits, employees must be properly terminated. Learn more about proper employee termination in California and your responsibilities toward a terminated employee.
Learn more about the COBRA program and which information you need to provide terminated California employees regarding their health insurance.
Helping Employees Understand California Law
As a California employer, you play many roles in your company. One of them is ensuring that all of your employees understand California employment laws as well as your company HR policies. CalChamber and HRCalifornia have the tools you need to communicate the necessary information to your employees.
An employee handbook is a key tool in communicating information regarding employment laws and human resources policies. CalChamber members have access to useful employee handbook advice and information. We also offer products like Employee Handbook Software that will help you create an employee handbook that conforms to California employment laws and labor law regulations.
Employee handbooks aren't the only way to communicate with your employees. In addition, California and federal law require all employers to post required posters and notices in a prominent place where they can be viewed by all employees. You can find these required and recommended posters and notices at HRCalifornia and in our CalChamber Store.
Employers are exposed to lawsuits every time they take action related to employees, or when they fail to take necessary action. You can avoid these risks through proper employee training. CalChamber offers products that can help you provide employee and manager training regarding sexual harassment in the workplace and workplace health and safety. Federal and California state laws require that certain training be conducted periodically. CalChamber can help you stay in compliance with these requirements.
Knowing California employment law is an important part of your job. Educate yourself on all of the California laws, communicate with your employees, and find the tools that make your job easier, all at HRCalifornia.
Additional Resources
Watch for our employment law counsel to blog on legal developments.