As California employers head into another year of compliance planning, the Golden State legislature has not slowed down. From higher wage thresholds and expanded pay-equity rules to sweeping changes affecting
Continue Reading ’Tis the Season for California’s New Employment Laws: Employer Considerations for 2026
On Aug. 21, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued its decision in Iloff v. LaPaille (18 Cal. 551 (2025)), addressing the standard employers must meet in order to assert a
Continue Reading Ignorance Is Not Bliss for Employers Asserting Good Faith Defense to Liquidated Damages in Minimum Wage Claims
When employers offer new hires a sign-on bonus or existing employees a retention bonus, they typically structure the bonuses as an upfront payment subject to a conditional repayment obligation if
Continue Reading California Claws Back: New Limits on Stay-or-Pay Contracts Starting Jan. 1, 2026
On Sept. 29, 2025, California Gov. Newsom signed Senate Bill 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, into law.
Continue Reading California Expands Whistleblower Retaliation Protections for Employees in the AI Sector
In a significant decision for employers, plan administrators, and ERISA practitioners, the Ninth Circuit’s recent ruling in Zavislak v. Netflix, Inc. reaffirms a narrow interpretation of the disclosure requirements under ERISA Section 104(b)(4) and offers insight into how courts may treat compliance delays during extraordinary circumstances.
On Sept. 12, 2025, the first California court issued an explicit “warning” to attorneys who use AI as part of their legal practice. In Sylvia Noland v. Land of the
Continue Reading California Court of Appeal Warns Against Attorney Misuse of Artificial Intelligence
Out in the cold, dark night rides the headless horseman, and he has a grievance. It is with his former employer who he thinks (with his head in hand) has treated his former colleagues poorly and violated the California Labor Code.
Continue Reading PAGA Plaintiffs Are Losing Their Heads!
The California Supreme Court has issued its long-awaited opinion resolving the split in authority regarding whether Code of Civil Procedure sections 1281.97 and 1281.98 are preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act.
Continue Reading CA Supreme Court Says Not So Fast on Draconian Arbitration Invoice Payment Rules
California Labor Code section 1102.5 authorizes employees to recover attorneys’ fees if they bring a successful action. However, the employer may preclude an award of attorney’s fees to the employee by establishing the same-decision affirmative defense outlined in Labor Code section 1102.6.
Continue Reading Court of Appeals Decision May Offer Employers Relief for Attorneys’ Fees Under California Labor Code Section 1102.5
As employers around the globe are increasingly looking to leverage AI and AI-adjacent automation in their recruiting and personnel processes, California has stepped onto the scene. On June 27
Continue Reading Beyond Bias: California Sets a New Standard for Regulating AI in the Workplace