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California Employment Law 2026

The SHRM Guide for Employers

James J. McDonald, Jr.

Fully updated with the latest legal developments, this is the definitive SHRM guide to California employment law.

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EAN: 9781398628915

Edition: 1

Published: 28 Apr 2026

Format: 234 x 156

344 pages

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About the book

California Employment Law 2026 is the only book employers need to stay fully compliant with the latest legal changes in the state.

It is often said that it is difficult for an employer to fully comply with all of California's employment laws. They are just too numerous, too complicated and changing too often. There are so many traps for the unwary and a simple mistake can lead to a seven-figure jury verdict or a class action lawsuit. California Employment Law 2026 is the official SHRM guide and so is the go-to resource for anyone who must contend with employment law in California as part of their day-to-day work, both those based in-state and those employers based outside of California who have employees working in the state.

This valuable reference is updated to address new developments, including:

- Restrictions on the use of AI-based systems in hiring
- Prohibition on most "stay or pay" agreements
- California's "Workplace Know Your Rights Act" requirements
- The legal definition of a "hostile working environment"
- Requirements for accommodating a pregnant employee
- Limitation on the scope of arbitration agreements
- New minimum wage and overtime exemption salary thresholds

About the authors

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.

- 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;