A recent study in San Francisco showed that artificial intelligence may have impacted jobs in tech-exposed areas. The most shocking part is that the statistics show that college-educated workers were heavily affected. Perhaps, in this new era, a college degree will not and cannot provide job security. Artificial intelligence adds a new factor to the mix: what employees (regardless of education level) can be replaced by AI?
Read MoreGovernor Newsom has recently ordered approximately 108,000 state workers to return back to the office for at least four days out of the week. For many of these state workers, they have spent the better part of six years working from home. California was one of the first states to mandate a stay-at-home order, forcing workers to work from home beginning on March 19, 2020. Newsom’s recent order may signal a shift back to in-office work for private sector employees. For the past six years, employers have had time to contemplate which model works best for their businesses, and it will be interesting to see what employers decide to do in the coming years.
Read MoreSan Diego Powder & Protective Coatings is a local Southern California company that was the subject of an undercover investigation and subsequent raid by ICE agents. This company regularly hired undocumented workers and was forced to forfeit nearly a quarter of a million dollars for doing so. The federal government is not just working off of anonymous tips or hunches. These federal agents are now posing as actual undocumented workers. Employers should take heed and be aware that hiring undocumented workers can be financially ruinous for their business.
Read MoreThe implementation of the City of Los Angeles’ Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance (“Ordinance”), which was adopted in May of 2025 and became effective in September of 2025, has already had disastrous effects in the first six months. Employers have been forced to cut costs and the hotel industry, its employees, and its partners are paying dearly for this implementation: they are paying with their entire livelihood. Instead of smaller, incremental, merit based hourly wage increases, the minimum wage mandate forced an entire industry and those who rely on this industry to absorb extraordinary increases in costs nearly overnight.
Read MoreThe California Fast Food Council failed to hold meetings for most of 2025 and has yet to meet with all nine members present. Considering the Council’s massive budget of $1 Million and the fact that its decisions have had a major impact on California’s fast food employers, business owners, and employees, seeing this Council lay dormant for so long and fail to hold its required meetings is a massive disappointment.
Read MoreOn February 1, 2026, California employers will be required to provide each employee with written notices that inform the employee of his or her workplace rights, labor protections, and immigration-related rights. The new law places several additional obligations on the employers that all employers should become familiar with. Failure to comply with the requirements of the new law can be financially prohibitive for businesses because penalties increase exponentially per employee. For larger employers, the penalties alone could be ruinous.
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