California Labor and Workforce Law

California has one of the largest economies in the United States, and comparatively, one of the largest in the world, if it were considered its own country. California’s Silicon Valley is an industrial hub for new ideas and cutting edge technologies, whereas Los Angeles is noteworthy as the heart of the entertainment industry. California is constantly trying to nurture and support new businesses to stimulate the economy, especially in its current negative state. The office of the governor has created several initiatives, including the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, who is tasked with providing thoughtful leadership to protect and improve California’s current workforce and the Department of Industrial Relations, who is tasked with improving conditions for employees in order to advance profitability in California. These offices are overseen by the California State Department of Labor, who is responsible for creating and implementing the State’s labor laws.

The California Department of Labor requires that California labor law posters be visible at all places of employment. There are a number of labor law posters that apply to all businesses, whereas others that are based on industry or public sector. All employers must post a state labor law poster with the Industrial Welfare Commission’s (IWC) minimum wage rate. The current California State minimum wage is $8.00 an hour, which is $.75 more than the Federal minimum wage. This is determined in part by the cost of living. All employers must also post a payday notice, stating when checks are distributed. All business owners must post safety and health protection regulations and emergency phone numbers. They must also post non-discrimination and non-harassment posters, and time off to vote notification.

All California state employers must post a notice stating that employees are eligible for worker’s compensation benefits. For those employees exposed to toxic or hazardous materials, the employer must post a labor law poster that advises them of their right to view personal medical records. For employees that operate or drive fork lifts, industrial trucks or tow trackers, employers must post the rules for such machinery.

All employers must also post labor law posters for whistleblower protection, which protects employees in the case that a business needs to be reported for non-compliance or safety issues. All employers must also post non-smoking signage where smoking is permitted and prohibited.

Additional labor laws apply to different industries and sizes of businesses, such as agricultural and public works, and those companies with 50 or more employees.