Navigating the wide range of California's complex laws can be challenging for employers. This article is intended to help establish and manage compensation practices in compliance with California wage payment and hours of work laws. The article discusses the principal sources of the laws and regulations, the business case for complying with those laws and regulations, and human resource professionals' role in helping their organizations to do so.
In addition, the article examines the employer/employee relationship for purposes of California's wage standards, and it details the rules regarding wage payment laws such as minimum wages, wage deductions and final pay rules as well as hours of work laws in California including travel time and breaks.
Although the focus of this article is compliance with California law, employers should always consult federal as well as state laws concerning wage and hour compliance. See U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division
The payment of wages and hours of work for employees in California is governed by a complex array of statutes, regulations, interpretations and precedents. The state's laws and rules on wages are set forth in various provisions of the California Labor Code and in wage orders of the state's Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC). Although the IWC is not currently in operation, the state's wage orders continue to be enforced by the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE).
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