It doesn’t matter if you’re an employee or an employer, it’s important to understand California’s labor laws. The problem most people encounter is that the state hasn’t gone out of its way to break these laws down in a way that is easily researched or understood.

Minimum Wage

California is a bit peculiar because instead of creating a flat minimum wage that covers everyone, California has two different minimum wages. The first is $13. The second is $12. The amount of minimum wage an employer pays is based on the size of the business. Employers with more than 26 employees start the minimum wage of $13 per hour.

The problem with this system is that it urges California employers to keep the number of employees under 25 which can often discourage them from trying to expand their bus...