Episode 26 - Wage and Hour Employer Updates for 2023 and Beyond

In Episode 26 - Wage and Hour Employer Updates for 2023 and Beyond we are joined once again by Katya Adams, Office Administrator for the Watkins Firm.  We discuss minimum wage rates for 2023 which are $15.50 for California, $16.30 for the City and County of San Diego, as well as the new white collar exemption in California that the individual must earn $1,240 weekly or $64,480 annually.  Katya goes on to explain the types of workers which can be potentially classified as an exempt employee such as professionals, attorneys, accountants, engineers, managers, accounting managers, administrative managers, human resource managers or those who manage a pool of employees.  Katya goes on to discuss California's "De Minimous" ruling and laws governing hourly workers in 2023.  A few of the biggest changes for 2023 including the "rounding" of hours and the "Pay Transparency Act."  No more rounding when it comes to the number of hours worked, and reporting requirements for employers have changed.  This not only applies to the old FEHA reporting requirements which now will work through the California Civil Rights Department or CRD, but the way in which advertised job positions must include pay scales.  Employers must also be prepared to update the information contained within the employee's file and know that the employee has the right to inspect that file at any time, as well as request the current "pay range" for their position.  Episode 26 discusses upcoming changes to California law regarding employee marijuana use (off the clock), new federal laws regarding a "designated person" as well as changes to bereavement leave and the prevention of employer retaliation in the event of a qualified emergency condition in the workplace (which could include the home for some workers). Finally, Katya discusses the process of termination, required timing of the final check and form(s) which must be completed and given to the employee, as well as changes to the employee handbook and polices and procedures due to all of these changes.