California Employment Law Blog

Algorithms are making employment decisions about California workers right now. Automated systems screen resumes, score interviews, rank candidates for promotion, flag employees for discipline, and even determine who gets laid off. Many workers never know an algorithm played a role in the decision that changed their career — and that is exactly the problem California’s…

If you ever signed an employment agreement that required you to repay training costs, a sign-on bonus, or relocation expenses when you left a job, you were locked into what California now considers an unlawful restraint on your career. Assembly Bill 692, which took effect on January 1, 2026, prohibits most of these “stay-or-pay” provisions…

California workers who win wage theft claims have long faced a bitter reality: the judgment itself does not guarantee payment. Studies cited by the California Legislature found that only about 12 percent of wage judgments were fully collected between 2018 and 2023. Employers routinely delayed, restructured, or simply refused to pay — and the financial…

If you are starting a new job in Southern California, you might sign a stack of onboarding papers in minutes, often while someone waits for you to hand the packet back. A Los Angeles employment lawyer will tell you that those papers can decide where your future claims get heard, even before any dispute exists.…

If you work in California or are applying for a new job, a Los Angeles employment lawyer will often warn you about one document that is signed quickly and later questioned. The background check disclosure. A California Court of Appeals decision filed February 4, 2026, held that an employee can pursue the Investigative Consumer Reporting…

Workplace immigration enforcement activity can put everyone on edge, even employees who never expect to face document questions. Confusion spreads quickly when someone says ICE is outside, when an employer announces an I-9 audit, or when managers start asking workers to answer questions immediately. California law imposes specific limits on how employers respond to worksite…

Immigration-related threats at work often show up at the same time as unpaid wages, harassment complaints, or safety concerns. A supervisor hints they will call ICE, a manager says someone “should be careful” about their paperwork, or the company suddenly brings up immigration status right after a complaint. California law treats that pattern seriously. Employers…

California workers face rising risks as extreme heat becomes more common. Outdoor laborers, warehouse staff, agricultural workers, and delivery drivers often bear the brunt of dangerous conditions. State regulations require employers to provide protections such as water, shade, rest periods, and reasonable work pacing. When workers speak up about unsafe heat conditions, the law protects…

Technology now plays a quiet but powerful role in hiring, discipline, and termination decisions across California workplaces. Employers increasingly rely on automated systems to screen applicants, rank candidates, evaluate performance, and flag workers for discipline or termination. While these tools promise efficiency, they also raise serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and discrimination. If an algorithm…

California has adopted a significant change to employment law that will reshape how employers handle training and onboarding costs. Beginning January 1, 2026, a new statute eliminates most “stay or pay” training repayment contracts that have kept workers locked in jobs by threatening heavy debt if they leave. These agreements, often described as Training Repayment…