Key Takeaways from Our Annual Legislative Update Webinar
Every new year brings fresh changes to California employment law and 2026 is no exception. In our recent webinar, California Employment Law 2026: What Employers Must Know Before Jan. 1, Firm Partners Melissa Whitehead and Elizabeth Levy, alongside firm co-founder Alex Medina, walked employers through the most important updates coming January 1. Their goal: help California employers maintain compliance, strengthen culture, and navigate the state’s increasingly complex legal landscape with confidence.
Watch the Replay:
View/Download the Slides:
Summary of What Was Covered
The webinar breaks down, at a high level:
- Key compensation and pay transparency developments: Shifts that affect how employers approach job postings, pay practices, and future planning.
- New requirements for personnel documentation: Updates that may change what must be collected, stored, and produced.
- Adjustments to leave, FEHA, and other core workplace protections: Important refinements that may require policy or handbook updates.
- Posting, notice, and administrative obligations: Several new requirements that impact what must be communicated to employees.
- Changes affecting arbitration and dispute-handling procedures: Updates that may influence how employers structure agreements and manage claims.
- Trends shaping New PAGA enforcement: A clearer picture of how the law is evolving and why proactive compliance matters more than ever.
Because California’s employment laws are complex and highly interdependent, the full webinar provides the context and nuance needed to understand how these updates fit together and how to prepare effectively for the year ahead.
Watch the replay to get the complete explanation, practical insights, and recommended next steps for entering 2026 with clarity and confidence.
Your Next Steps
As you prepare your organization for the legal updates on the horizon, there are a few steps you should consider taking:
1. Review & Update Employee Handbook
Ensure your handbook reflects current California law—including the new 2026 requirements—and that your policies are cohesive, compliant, and practical for daily operations. If you'd like support reviewing or updating your company policies, email legalupdates@medinamckelvey.com. We’ll help you determine the right next steps for your business.
2. Start a Wage and Hour Compliance Plan
California’s revised PAGA standards now significantly reduce penalties for employers who can demonstrate they’ve taken all “reasonable steps” to comply with wage and hour laws, lowering exposure by as much as 85%. Our Compliance Plan provides a structured, end-to-end approach for evaluating your timekeeping, wage, and HR practices; prioritizing areas of highest exposure; updating policies and processes to ensure legal alignment and practical rollout; and ultimately providing documentation that your organization has taken the necessary steps to strengthen compliance and help guard against lawsuits.
3. Reach Out With Questions
Unsure how (or if) these updates will impact your organization? Need additional support preparing for 2026? Unclear on something discussed during the webinar? We’re here to help. Just email legalupdates@medinamckelvey.com with your questions and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.