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Pay and hours
- Minimum wage and overtime in CaliforniaThe 2026 and 2027 minimum wage, local and industry minimums, and daily and weekly overtime rules.
- Meal and rest breaksWhen meal and rest breaks are required and the premium pay rule when they aren’t provided.
- Final paychecks and pay stubsWhen final wages are due after firing or quitting, waiting time penalties, and pay stub rules.
Claims and complaints
- How a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner worksFiling a claim, the conference and hearing, time limits, and the court alternative.
- Losing a job, retaliation and protected activityAt-will employment, its legal limits, retaliation complaints, and unemployment benefits.
- Workplace discrimination, harassment and leaveFEHA protections, the CRD complaint process, accommodations and protected leave.
Words to know
- At-will employment
- Employment that either side can end at any time for any lawful reason.
- Exempt employee
- An employee not covered by overtime rules because of their duties and salary.
- Labor Commissioner
- The state office (DLSE) that enforces wage laws and takes wage and retaliation claims.
- Premium pay
- An extra hour of pay owed when a required meal or rest break isn’t provided.
- Right-to-sue notice
- A notice from the Civil Rights Department that allows a discrimination lawsuit to be filed in court.
- Waiting time penalty
- Extra wages owed when final pay is late, up to 30 days’ pay.