About This Book
The California Labor Code is a body of civil law governing employment rights, working conditions, and employer-employee relations statewide. It is enforced by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and the Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE).
The full text is available through the Justia or FindLaw California Labor Code databases.
Structure
The Code is divided into major sections:
- Division 1: Department of Industrial Relations (administration)
- Division 2: Employment Regulation (wages, hours, breaks, child labor, garment and agricultural workers)
- Division 3: Employment Relations (employer and employee rights and obligations)
- Divisions 4 & 4.5: Workers' Compensation and Insurance (including state employees)
- Division 4.7: Retraining and Rehabilitation
- Division 5: Workplace Safety (enforced by Cal/OSHA)
- Divisions 6 & 7: Worker ownership and outreach programs
Key Protections
- Minimum Wage: Increases to $17.40/hour on January 1, 2027, with higher rates in sectors such as fast food and healthcare.
- Overtime & Breaks: Requires 1.5x pay for hours over 8 per day or 40 per week, 2x pay for extended hours, and strict meal and rest break standards.
- Paid Sick Leave: Employers must provide at least 40 hours (5 days) annually.
- Expense Reimbursement (§2802): Employers must reimburse all necessary work-related expenses, including cell phones, internet, and equipment.
- Salary History Ban (§432.3): Employers may not solicit or consider an applicant's prior salary history.
- At-Will Employment: Presumed unless modified by agreement, subject to exceptions including anti-discrimination protections under FEHA.
Practice Tests Using This Book
This book is required or recommended for 1 licensing exam. We've written 32 practice questions directly from this material, each one citing the chapter and section it comes from.