Effective January 1, 2012, AB 469 known as the Wage Theft Protection Act of 2011 adds Labor Code §2810.5. Under the new law, California employers must provide each overtime eligible employee at the time of their hire with a written notice (in the language used to communicate in the workplace) that specifies all of the following:

1. the rate or rates of pay and the basis thereof, whether paid by the hour, shift, day, week, salary, piece, commission or otherwise, including any rates for overtime, as applicable;
2. allowances, [...]

Effective January 1, 2012, Labor Code section §1024.5 prohibits most California employers from obtaining a consumer credit report on a job applicant and/or employee, except in very limited circumstances. Beginning January 1, 2012, California employers may only obtain, or request, a consumer credit report on an employee, or prospective employee, if the employee falls into one of six categories, including:

1. An employee that qualifies for the "executive" overtime pay exemption;
2. An employee who the law otherwise requires [...]

On June 30, 2011, the California Supreme Court unanimously held in Sullivan v. Oracle (S170577) that: (1) California's overtime laws do in fact apply to nonresident employees who work in California, even temporarily; (2) that failure to pay overtime wages to nonresidents employed in California can form a basis of an a Business and Professions Code Section [...]

On July 8, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 221 into law. SB 221 increases the Small Claims Court jurisdictional limit from $7,500 to $10,000 with two caveats. First, the jurisdictional limit of the Small Claims Court will remain $7,500 for claims of bodily injury resulting from a car accident if the defendant in the action is insured and the insured's policy includes a duty to defend. Second, the Small Claims jurisdictional limit will remain $5,000 for suits brought by entities such as corporations, [...]

For 2011, the IRS standard mileage rate deduction for business use of a vehicle was 51 cents per mile. Beginning July 1, 2011, the IRS standard mileage rate deduction for business use of a vehicle is increased from 51 cents per mile to 55.5 cents per mile.

Pursuant to California Labor Code §2802, California employers are required to reimburse employees for [...]