What steps do I need to take to ensure my business is compliant with California employment laws?

To ensure compliance with California employment laws, there are several steps that you need to take. Here are some of the most important:

1. Establish and follow all employment policies and procedures: Make sure that your business has sound policies and procedures in place, such as an employee handbook, that detail your expectations of employees and provide clear guidelines for behavior and action. These policies should also include provisions for preventing harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and other forms of unlawful behavior in the workplace.
2. Provide training to employees and managers: Train all employees and managers on policies related to harassment, discrimination, safety, and other relevant subjects. Offer regular updates and refresher courses.
3. Properly classify employees: Ensure that employees are properly classified as exempt or non-exempt and independent contractors are properly classified as such. Misclassifying employees can lead to substantial liability under California employment laws.
4. Comply with wage and hour regulations: California has stringent wage and hour laws, so it is essential that you comply with these regulations. This includes properly paying overtime, providing meal and rest breaks, and maintaining accurate records of hours worked.
5. Provide a safe and healthy work environment: Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. This includes maintaining a work environment that is free from hazards, providing safety training, and complying with applicable safety regulations.
6. Comply with leave regulations: California employers must provide employees with certain leave rights, including the right to take time off for family and medical reasons under the FMLA and CA Family Rights Act, and disability leave under the CA Fair Employment and Housing Act.
7. Apply California employment discrimination laws: California employment discrimination law protects employees and job applicants from discrimination in the workplace based on factors such as race, gender, religion, and age. As such, you must ensure that all employment-related matters are conducted in accordance with these laws.

While the list above is not exhaustive of all California employment laws, compliance with these regulations will go a long way in ensuring that your business is in good standing with state laws. It is strongly advised that you consult with an attorney if you have specific concerns about compliance with California employment laws.