Category: Minimum Wage
Reducing an Exempt Employee’s Salary? Proceed with Extreme Caution
We have an employee who is classified as an exempt administrative employee and is paid $70,000 per year. He wants to work four days per…
2026 Computer Professionals, Licensed Physicians Rates
On January 1, 2026, the overtime exemption rates for computer software employees and licensed physicians will increase, so employers must ensure these employees’ hourly rates are not less than…
California Supreme Court Clarifies Good-Faith Defense to Unpaid Wage Claims
Typically, employees who prove minimum wage violations are entitled to liquidated damages. Recently though, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion clarifying employers’ good-faith defense…
California’s 2026 Minimum Wage Increases to $16.90 Per Hour
On August 1, the California Department of Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw officially certified that beginning January 1, 2026, California’s minimum wage will increase to $16.90 per hour…
City of Los Angeles Hotel and Airport Worker Wage Increase Put on Hold After Referendum Petition Filed
Updated 09/16/2025: After the referendum petition failed, the $22.50 per hour hotel and airport worker minimum wage, along with the related changes discussed here, took…
Some California Health Care Worker Minimum Wage Rates Increase July 1
On October 16, 2024, California’s health care worker minimum wage took effect with different rate schedules for different types of covered health care facilities. And…
Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Order Rescinded
On March 14, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that revoked several previous executive orders issued by former President Joe Biden, including Executive…
Making Sense of Minimum Wage Requirements
With different federal, state, local and industry-specific minimum wage requirements, how do I know if I am properly paying my California employees? The first step…
DOL Proposes Phasing Out Subminimum Wage for Disabled Workers
On December 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a proposed rule that would eventually phase out certificates that permit employers to pay certain…
California Local Minimum Wage Rates Increasing January 1, 2025
Many California jurisdictions are ringing in the new year with local minimum wage increases so California employers should double check the local minimum wage(s) in…
