California Employment Law — Full Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are California's overtime rules in 2026?

  California requires overtime pay (1.5× your regular rate) for any hours over 8 in a single workday or over 40 in a workweek. Double time (2×) applies for hours beyond 12 in a workday. On the 7th consecutive workday in the same workweek, the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5× and anything over 8 hours at 2×. This is stricter than federal FLSA, which only triggers overtime after 40 weekly hours.

• When must a California employer issue a final paycheck?

  If you are fired or laid off, your final paycheck is due immediately on your last day (Labor Code §201). If you quit with at least 72 hours' notice, it is due on your last day. If you quit without notice, the employer has 72 hours to pay. Missing these deadlines triggers waiting-time penalties of one day's pay per day late, up to 30 days.

• Are non-compete agreements enforceable in California?

  No. California Business and Professions Code §16600 voids all non-compete agreements in employment contracts, regardless of how narrowly drafted or where signed. Employers who attempt to enforce a non-compete against a California worker commit a civil violation and can be sued for injunctive relief and attorneys' fees.

• What meal and rest breaks are required in California?

  California requires a 30-minute unpaid meal period for shifts over 5 hours (a second meal period for shifts over 10 hours) and a 10-minute paid rest break for every 4 hours worked. Missing a meal or rest break requires the employer to pay one additional hour of pay at the employee's regular rate as a premium.

• Does California require employers to provide paid sick leave?

  Yes. Under California's Healthy Workplaces Healthy Families Act, employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The annual minimum is 40 hours (5 days). Employees must complete a 90-day employment period before using accrued sick leave. There is no federal equivalent — the federal FFCRA expired in 2020.

• What is the California minimum wage in 2026?

  The California state minimum wage is $16.90 per hour effective January 1, 2026 — more than twice the federal floor of $7.25/hr. Fast food workers covered under AB 1228 earn at least $20.00/hr. Healthcare facility workers earn a higher state minimum. Some cities and counties (e.g., San Francisco, Los Angeles) set even higher local rates.

• Does California have a tipped minimum wage?

  No. California does not permit a reduced tipped minimum wage (tip credit). All employees — including tipped workers — must be paid at least the full state or applicable local minimum wage. Tips are entirely the employee's property and cannot be credited toward the minimum wage.

• How long does an employee have to file a California wage claim?

  The statute of limitations for most wage claims in California (overtime, meal/rest breaks, minimum wage, final paycheck) is 3 years from the date of the violation under Labor Code §1194. Claims under the Unfair Competition Law (Business and Professions Code §17200) have a 4-year window.