California Wage and Hour Law: Essential Payroll Practices for Companies Doing Business in California

The most common lawsuit now brought against California employers involves a challenge to employer payroll practices. Many payroll and human resources managers, particularly those managing from outside of California, are unfamiliar with the complex legal requirements governing the payment of wages in California. This OnDemand Webinar is designed to help you master basic California legal principles governing the payroll process, and avoid liability in this highly litigated area of the law. You will learn how to avoid common mistakes employers make in determining what constitutes “hours worked” for which wages must be paid, legal requirements for meal and rest periods, best practices for calculating bonus and commission amounts, wage statement requirements, how to properly compute overtime, and legal requirements for expense reimbursements. An emphasis will be placed on practical steps employers can take to modify payroll documentation to conform to California legal requirements, in addition to implementing forms, policies, and procedures to minimize risks in these areas.

Authors

Agenda

Sources of California Wage and Hour Law

• Determining Which California Wage Order Applies
• Resolving Conflicts Between California and Federal Law
• Topics Covered by All California Wage Orders

Pay Frequency and Deadline Requirements

What Is Considered 'Hours Worked'?

• Emerging Areas of Liability
• Attendance at Meetings and Trainings
• Computer 'Boot Up' Time
• Business Travel
• Commute Time
• Standby Time
• 'Show Up' Time
• Time Clock 'Rounding'

Overtime Pay

• Computing the Regular Rate of Pay
• Basic Exemptions
• Common Mistakes

Wage Stub Requirements

• Nine Categories of Information Required
• Emerging Litigation Trends
• Avoiding Common Mistakes

Commissions and Bonuses

• Common Mistakes
• Prohibited Criteria
• Best Practices - Drafting Bonus and Commission Plans

Meal and Rest Periods Requirements

• 'Ensure' vs. 'Provide' Standard
• Exceptions and Use of Waivers
• Payment of Wage Premiums
• Cutting-Edge Policies and Procedures to Protect Your Company

Payment of Final Wages

• Deadlines for Payment - Resignation
• Deadlines for Payment - Termination
• Waiting Time Penalties

Expense Reimbursement

• Basic Legal Requirements
• IRS 'Safe Harbors'

Additional Formats