What Should You Do Before Reporting Sexual Harassment to HR?
What Should You Do Before Reporting Sexual Harassment to HR? Before you report sexual harassment to HR, document what happened, preserve relevant evidence, identify witnesses, review your employer’s harassment policy, and prepare a clear written account of the conduct. You do not need perfect evidence before reporting harassment, but organized records can help establish what […]
California Regular Rate: Bonuses and Commissions Must Be Included
California Regular Rate: Bonuses and Commissions Must Be Included Your California overtime rate may be higher than 1.5 times your basic hourly wage. For non-exempt employees, the California regular rate can include qualifying bonuses, commissions, shift differentials, piece-rate earnings, and other compensation. If an employer leaves these earnings out, overtime and meal or rest break […]
When Are Sales Commissions Considered Earned in California?
When Are Sales Commissions Considered Earned in California? A sales commission is generally considered earned in California when the employee satisfies the conditions required by the applicable commission agreement. Depending on the plan, that might occur when a customer signs a contract, the sale closes, a product is delivered, or the customer pays. Once a […]
How Are Missed Meal and Rest Breaks Paid in California?
How Are Missed Meal and Rest Breaks Paid in California? When a California employer fails to provide a legally compliant meal or rest period, a covered employee may be owed one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular rate of compensation for that workday. Meal-period and rest-period violations are treated as separate categories, so […]
What Is Off-the-Clock Work in California?
What Is Off-the-Clock Work in California? Off-the-clock work in California occurs when a non-exempt employee performs job-related duties but that time is not recorded or paid. It can happen before a shift, after clocking out, during an unpaid meal period, or while answering work emails and messages from home. California employers generally must pay employees […]
How Is Overtime Calculated With Bonuses and Commissions?
How Is Overtime Calculated With Bonuses and Commissions? California overtime is not always calculated from an employee’s base hourly wage. For non-exempt employees, certain commissions, nondiscretionary bonuses, incentive payments, and other compensation may increase the regular rate of pay used to calculate overtime. This means an employee earning $20 per hour may have an overtime […]
Can Salaried Employees Receive Overtime in California?
Can Salaried Employees Receive Overtime in California? Yes. Salaried employees can receive overtime in California when they are non-exempt or incorrectly classified as exempt. A salary is only a payment method; it does not automatically remove overtime rights. California looks at salary level, how the employee is paid, and the work actually performed. Does a […]
How to Know If Your Employer Owes You Unpaid Wages
How to Know If Your Employer Owes You Unpaid Wages Your employer may owe you unpaid wages if your paycheck does not include every hour worked, the correct pay rate, overtime, earned commissions, required break compensation, or other employment-related payments. Warning signs include missing hours, unexplained deductions, unpaid work before or after a shift, an […]
Fired After Reporting Illegal Conduct in California? Whistleblower Retaliation Rights
Fired After Reporting Illegal Conduct in California? Whistleblower Retaliation Rights If you were fired after reporting illegal conduct at work, the termination may be unlawful whistleblower retaliation. California Labor Code section 1102.5 generally protects employees who disclose information they reasonably believe shows a violation of a state or federal statute, or noncompliance with a local, […]
California Labor Code 1102.5: What Whistleblowers Should Know
California Labor Code 1102.5: What Whistleblowers Should Know California Labor Code 1102.5 is one of the state’s primary whistleblower-protection laws. It generally prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report suspected legal violations, provide information during certain investigations, or refuse to participate in unlawful conduct. The law can protect internal complaints as well as reports […]