Several new employment laws have been cleared for 2022 this past year, adding and changing clauses concerning non-disclosure agreements, expansion of the CA Family Right Act, wage theft, and several others amid unprecedented back-to-work incentives. Although it’s not a new law, there’s another change that will go into effect come January 2022: the minimum wage increase in California. These next few blogs will continue to focus on the impending changes to the employment landscape in California.
California’s minimum wage currently sits at $13.00 per hour for smaller businesses with 25 or fewer employees, and $14.00 per hour for larger companies. By the start of 2022, these amounts will each increase by a dollar, to $14.00 and $15.00 per hour.
In a world where workers are more willing to quit than ever before, the minimum wage increase may change that. However there are still groups that are struggling, such as parents with no access to childcare who are being forced to resign across the country due to nationwide school closures. A higher minimum wage can’t fix that – but “get back to work” incentives could.
Due to the significant labor shortages this year at the hands of COVID-19 and The Great Resignation, employers have gotten desperate. While some companies are mandating their employees to work in-person, others are instead offering perks to get their staff back to work. Some companies, such as the global real estate firm CoStar, are raffling off things like vacations via private jet, cash prizes amounting to $10,000, and even a Tesla vehicle to entice prospective employees.
A Tesla is unlikely to help a working parent handle their childcare needs, though many companies are offering flexible schedules and stipends for childcare or in-home care, which could be the answer for many single-parent families who’ve been forced to resign due to countrywide school closures.
Browse these online publications for more news and information concerning California’s upcoming minimum wage increase, as well as the explosion of back-to-work incentives this past year:
- GovDocs breaks down the 2022 minimum wage rates for California employees, such as what cities will be updating their rates, the new rates for each city, and how both small and large businesses will be affected.
- CBS New York discusses the advantages held by employees in the current job climate, with companies still offering massive incentives to fill holes in seasonal staff. The article dives into how both big businesses – such as Walgreens, Amazon, and Target – and smaller organizations are increasingly desperate for full-time employees.
- The American Post provides a list of U.S. states that offer return-to-work bonuses through the end of 2021. Each state is different with none of the same incentives, though requirements for state-funded incentives include employment for at least eight straight weeks, plus proof that the requirement has been met. Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Mountain, and New Hampshire are among the included states.
Experienced Employment Law Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Investigator, Legal and Media Commentator
Twice-named a U.S. News Best Lawyer in America for employment and labor law, Angela Reddock-Wright is an employment and labor law attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and certified workplace and Title IX investigator (AWI-CH) in Los Angeles, CA. Known as the “Workplace Guru,” Angela is an influencer and leading authority on employment, workplace/HR, Title IX, hazing, and bullying issues. Furthermore, she’s been named a “Top California Employment Lawyer” by the Daily Journal and one of Los Angeles’ “Most Influential Minority and Women Attorneys” by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Angela is a regular legal and media commentator and analyst and has appeared on such media outlets as Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, Law and Crime with Brian Ross, Court TV, CNN, NewsNation, ABC News, CBS News, Fox 11 News, KTLA-5, the Black News Channel, Fox Soul – The Black Report, NPR, KPCC, Airtalk-89.3, KJLH Front Page with Dominique DiPrima, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the LA Times, Forbes.com, Yahoo! Entertainment, People Magazine, Essence Magazine, the Los Angeles Sentinel, LA Focus, Daily Journal, Our Weekly and the Wave Newspapers.
Angela is a member of the panel of distinguished mediators and arbitrators with Judicate West, a California dispute resolution company. She also owns her own dispute resolution law firm, the Reddock Law Group of Los Angeles, specializing in the mediation, arbitration, and investigation of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace claims, along with Title IX, sexual harassment, assault, and misconduct conduct cases, along with hazing and bullying cases in K-12 schools, colleges and universities, fraternities and sororities; fire, police and other public safety agencies and departments; and other private and public sector workplaces.
Reddock-Wright has also launched her own radio show, Legal Lens with Angela Reddock-Wright, airing on Tavis Smiley’s new KBLA Talk 1580 radio station on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. PT with replays on subsequent Sundays. Listeners may tune-in by downloading the APP @kbla1580 and call the PowerLines at 1-800-920-1580.
For more information regarding resources for employers, businesses, and employees during this time, connect with her on LinkedIn for new updates, or contact her here. You may also follow her on Instagram.
This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.