Workplace Discrimination: In California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits discrimination of an employee or job applicant based on their protected characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, disability, pregnancy, or age.  California employers with five or more employees are required to provide a workplace free from discrimination and take appropriate measures to prevent discrimination from occurring.

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Harassment: In California, workplace harassment involves unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics, such as race, sex, gender, religion, or disability, which creates a hostile or offensive work environment. Both federal and California laws prohibit workplace harassment and require employers to take prompt and appropriate action to address and prevent it.

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Retaliation: California and federal law prohibit an employer from retaliating against an  employee for engaging in legally protected activities, such as reporting discrimination, reporting illegal practices, taking a qualifying medical leave, using sick time, or participating in an investigation

Meal Breaks: In California, non-exempt employees are entitled to an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break for every 5 hours worked.  If the employee's workday lasts for more than 10 hours, they are entitled to a second uninterrupted 30-minute meal break.  The employer does not have to pay the employee the time spent taking a meal break.

 

Rest Breaks: Non-exempt employees in California are entitled to uninterrupted 10-minute rest breaks for every 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof.  Rest breaks should be paid, on the clock, and employees must be relieved from all work-related duties during their rest periods.

 

Overtime: In California, non-exempt employees who work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week are entitled to overtime pay. The overtime rate is typically 1.5 times their regular hourly rate.  Non-exempt employees who work more than 12 hours in a single work day or more than eight hours on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek are entitled to double time pay.

 

Minimum Wage: California's minimum wage law sets the minimum hourly wage that employers must pay to their employees. To find the most current California minimum wage, please refer to the Department of Industrial Relations page here: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_minimumwage.htm.  

Many cities and counties have higher minimum wage rates.  To find out the minimum wage applicable to your city, please refer to the following guide: https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/#s-2