California Employment Law 2025: The SHRM Guide for Employers

by James J. McDonald, Jr.

Overview

It is often said that it is impossible for an employer to fully comply with all of California's employment laws. They are just too numerous, too complicated and too often changing - and seldom for the better. There are so many traps for the unwary, and the stakes of getting it wrong are quite high for California employers. A simple mistake can lead to a seven-figure jury verdict or a class action lawsuit. California Employment Law 2025 is the go-to resource for anyone who must contend with employment law in California as part of their day-to-day work, including employers based outside of California who have employees working in the state.

This valuable reference is updated to address new developments in 2024, including:
- New requirements for requiring temporary employees to arbitrate employment disputes.
- The new Freelance Worker Protection Act.
- New minimum wages for health care workers.
- Higher salary thresholds for overtime exemptions.
- New requirements for cool-down breaks for indoors workers.
- Restrictions on requiring job applicants to have driver's licenses.
- Expanded leave requirements for employees who are victims of certain acts of violence, or whose family members are victims.
- New restrictions on mandatory "captive audience" employee meetings preceding a union representation election.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781398625662
Publisher:	Kogan Page, Ltd.
Publication date:	05/27/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

James J. McDonald, Jr., J.D., SHRM-SCP, is a partner in the Irvine, California, office of the labor and employment law firm Fisher&Phillips LLP. His practice involves trials, arbitrations, and appeals of employment law claims. He also has more than 30 years' experience advising California employers about all aspects of labor and employment law, strategic human resource issues, and how to avoid employment claims and lawsuits. He has spoken before at many human resource, business, and industry organizations and he taught labor and employment law in the Human Resources Management Program at the University of California, Irvine, for 16 years. He received his undergraduate degree from New College of Florida and his law degree cum laude from Georgetown University.
James J. McDonald, Jr., J.D., SHRM-SCP, is a partner in the Irvine, California office of Fisher&Phillips LLP, an international employment law firm. With more than 30 years of experience advising and advocating for employers, he is a trial lawyer, litigator and strategic advisor to employers ranging from global companies to entrepreneurial concerns, public agencies and nonprofits. He taught labor and employment law at the University of California, Irvine for 16 years, and he is a frequent speaker at SHRM conferences and events nationwide. A cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, he is a member of the California and Florida Bars, and he holds SHRM's designation as a senior certified professional in human resources.

Table of Contents

• • Chapter - 01: California Employment Law: How Did This Become So Difficult?;
  • Chapter - 02: Employment at Will: What It Really Means;
  • Chapter - 03: Arbitration of Employment Disputes;
  • Chapter - 04: Employee Handbooks;
  • Chapter - 05: Employees or Independent Contractors?;
  • Chapter - 06: The Hiring Process;
  • Chapter - 07: Paying Employees Correctly;
  • Chapter - 08: Overtime;
  • Chapter - 09: Meals, Breaks, Pants, and Seats: Other Rights of Employees;
  • Chapter - 10: Employee Privacy Rights;
  • Chapter - 11: Protecting Trade Secrets;
  • Chapter - 12: Employment Discrimination;
  • Chapter - 13: Harassment;
  • Chapter - 14: Accommodating Employees with Disabilities;
  • Chapter - 15: Leaves of Absence;
  • Chapter - 16: Conducting Workplace Investigations;
  • Chapter - 17: Avoiding Retaliation Claims;
  • Chapter - 18: Rightful Terminations;
  • Chapter - 19: Unions and Labor Relations;
  • Chapter - 20: Workplace Safety and Health;