Over the past few years, California has seen many new developments in wage and hour laws. The new rules cover a wide array of topics, ranging from labor-law disputes to COVID-19-related requirements.

The developments include:

• Three California Supreme Court decisions on meal and rest periods.
• A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
• Reinstatement of COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave through SB 114.
• COVID-19 exclusion-pay requirements issued by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA).

It's a mixed bag for companies, with the business community welcoming some of the new rules but not others. To adapt, employers should review their policies and practices to ensure they align with the law.

Meal and Rest Breaks

California has strict requirements for employee meal periods and rest breaks.

In 2021 and 2022, three California Supreme Court decisions increased employers' risk of liability for meal and rest break violations, said Michael Nader, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Sacramento, Calif.

In Donohue v. AMN Services, the court prohibited employer policies that round time entries for meal breaks.

The court ruled on premium payments for noncompliant breaks in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotel. According to the decision, the payments should be made using the "regular rate of pay" used for overtime.

This year, the court released another major decision on meal and rest periods. In Naranjo v. Spectrum...

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