Throughout California, local cities and counties are passing ordinances relating to minimum wage, paid sick leave, criminal background checks, employee scheduling and more.
Minimum Wage Increases
Although the state minimum wage doesn’t increase until 2018, a number of local minimum wage hikes will take effect on July 1, 2017. The following cities and county will increase their minimum wage on July 1:
• Emeryville: $15.20/hour for businesses with 56 or more employees; $14/hour for businesses with 55 or fewer employees.
• City of Los Angeles: $12/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $10.50 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
• Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas only): $12/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $10.50 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
• Malibu: $12/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $10.50 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
• Pasadena: $12/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $10.50 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
• San Francisco: $14 an hour.
• San Jose: $12 an hour.
• Santa Monica: $12/hour for employers with 26 or more employees; $10.50 an hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees.
In addition, both San Leandro and Milpitas enacted new minimum wage ordinances that go into effect on July 1, 2017.
Eligibility rules may vary between these different locations.
Local Leave Laws
The City of Los Angeles paid sick leave ordinance applies to employers with 25 or fewer employees beginning July 1, 2017 (smaller employers were given a one-year deferral when the ordinance went into effect in July 2016).
San Francisco’s Paid Parental Leave Ordinance was passed with a phased-in implementation. Employers with 35 or more employees must begin complying as of July 1, 2017.
Emeryville’s Fair Workweek Ordinance is effective July 1, 2017, and sets scheduling requirements for certain retail and fast-food employers.
Many of these local ordinances contain notice requirements. California Chamber of Commerce members can use the Local Ordinance Wizard on HRCalifornia to determine which requirements apply. Nonmembers can sign up for a free 15-day trial of HRCalifornia.
