California Workplace & Employment Law Blog

A number of new laws took effect on January 1, 2019 which affect severance agreements and other settlement agreements entered into in California. Taken together, these new laws should prompt a thorough review of severance and other settlement agreements.

As you may already have learned as a business proprietor, employers are exposed to the risk of lawsuits every time they take action related to their employees. One way to minimize the financial impact of employee lawsuits is through Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI). EPLI is specialized insurance designed to protect against loss incurred in litigating wrongful employment practices claims by covering the costs of a company’s legal fees, as well as costs for settlements and judgments.

California’s minimum wage will eventually reach $15 per hour in 2022, with an increase occurring every January 1st until then. The schedule of increases depends on the size of your business. California businesses with 26 or more employees will reach $15 per hour in 2022, and businesses with 25 or fewer employees will have until 2023 to reach the $15 per hour rate.