State Update Overview
Date Updated | January 2025 |
Labor Law Update | The State of California Workplace Discrimination & Harassment, Whistleblowers’ Protection, Workers’ Compensation, and Minimum Wage Laws |
What Changed | Added information to protected classes, right to consult an attorney, and increased minimum wage |
Mandatory or Non-Mandatory | Mandatory |
Updated Poster | California Labor Law Poster |
In January 2025, the state of California published revised Discrimination & Harassment, Whistleblower’s Protection, Workers’ Compensation, and Minimum Wage Posters.
California Workplace Discrimination & Harassment Labor Law Update
- Race to include traits associated with race
- Employers must provide each employee with information about the illegal nature of sexual harassment and available legal remedies.
- Reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs apply to the wearing of clothing, jewelry, and facial or body hair that are a part of an individual’s observance of their religious beliefs.
- Additional protections apply to employees who take time off work to serve on a jury, and to go to court or seek legal relief.
California Whistleblower’s Protection Law Update
- An employee is considered a whistleblower and protected when the employer believes the employee engaged in or will exercise protected activity.
- Protections extend to an employee who is perceived to be a whistleblower.
California Worker’s Compensation Labor Law Update
- Informs employees of their right to consult a licensed attorney to advise of rights under workers’ compensation laws
California Minimum Wage Law
- Minimum wage increased to $16.50 per hour effective January 1, 2025
Wage and Hour Exemptions
Employees may be exempt from wage and hour laws based on criteria associated with their salary, actual duties, and skills. Exempt employees neither receive overtime pay nor qualify for minimum wage. California labor law defines these exemptions based on Executive, Administrative, or Professional status. Learn more here.
California Labor Law Poster Update
All businesses within the State of California must display the new “California Law Prohibits Workplace Discrimination & Harassment”, “Whistleblowers are Protected”, “Notice to Employees-Injuries Caused by Work”, and “Minimum Wage” posters along with other state-mandated posting requirements where they are sufficiently accessible and viewable to all employees. These changes have been reflected in our California Labor Law Poster and require an immediate mandatory update. Failure to meet compliance requirements and display the updated poster could result in fines.
Order the California Labor Law Poster to ensure full compliance with these new posters and all state and federal workplace poster mandates.