In January, a new California law that imposes a duty on employers to provide certain notifications to non-exempt employees went into effect. Non-exempt employees are employees who, because of the nature of their work and the amount they are paid, qualify for overtime pay under California and federal overtime laws and regulations.

Under this new law, employers must provide a written notification to all non-exempt employees at the time they are hired or when the terms or conditions of their employment are changed. The law specifies the type of information companies must convey to such employees. The form of the notice is a relatively simple one-page document. The State Department of Labor Standards Enforcement has published a sample form that can be used as a starting point for compliance with this new law. This form can be found at http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Governor_signs_Wage_Theft_Protection_Act_of_2011.html

Unlike many new laws, compliance with this law is relatively simple. We urge all companies to take the time fill out this form as needed and file copies of this form in employee files.

For additional information on this topic or any area of employment law, contact Lisa Chapman