Authored by Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) and signed by Governer Jerry Brown, SB 1342 protects workers by creating a way to fight wage theft at a local level. The bill will go into effect on January 1, 2017.
“I thank Governor Bown for signing SB 1342,” addressed Senator Mendoza in a statement. “This bill protects hard-working Californians by clarifying the ability of cities and counties to investigate non-compliance with local wage laws.”
This new law allows cities and counties to work with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) to ensure these wage payment laws are properly implemented. The new measure was meant to provide local enforcement programs the tools necessary to perform wage claim investigations to recover unpaid wages, such as the ability to issue subpoenas
“As cities and counties in California move to raise the minimum wage, we must ensure that our low-wage workers, who already face many challenges, receive the pay that they have earned,” said Mendoza.
The law encourages cities and counties to create specific measures to seek and fix wage theft. So far, many cities have adopted city minimum wage and paid sick leave laws. For example, 15 cities in California have already passed minimum wage ordinances which go beyond the State-mandated $10 per hour. San Francisco city and county have enacted laws to raise the local minimum wage to $12.25 an hour.
It is a reminder for employers about the importance of reviewing whether the new local city minimum wage or paid sick leave laws encompasses any of their operations.
If you were denied wages you rightfully earned in Northern California, contact Polaris Law Group and request a consultation with our Hollister employment law attorney today.
