California Employment Laws and Regulations
California agricultural employers face unique challenges as they employ the largest agricultural workforce in the nation. California’s special protections against employment discrimination, enhanced wages and overtime requirements, requirements for meal and rest periods, and a host of other California-unique requirements make creating jobs and employing people a special challenge for California farmers.
- Wage & Hour: Overtime & Minimum Wage:
- California Farm Bureau (CAFB): Increases in Minimum Wage; Increases in Minimum Monthly Salary of Exempt Managers/Supervisors; Phase In of Overtime for Non-Exempt Agricultural Employees (PDF) (Note: see updated chart attached separately)
- FELS: Ag Overtime Resources
- FELS: “Pyramiding” of Overtime Not Required
- California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE): New Minimum Wage Phase in Requirement 2017-2023 Frequently Asked Questions
- DLSE: Minimum Wage
- DLSE: Overtime for Agricultural Workers - Frequently Asked Questions
- Paid Sick Leave
- FELS: AB 1522 Paid Sick Leave Mandate
- California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR): Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014
- FELS: California 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (Barsamian & Moody)
- DLSE: 2022 SPSL (COVID Supplemental Paid Sick Leave) FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- DLSE: 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (posting)
- California Family Rights Act/Family and Medical Leave Act
- FELS: FMLA and CFRA Resources
- California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH): Family, Medical, and Pregnancy Disability Leave for Employees in California
- Harassment/Sexual Harassment:
- Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) an affiliated company of California Farm Bureau: