5 Game-Changing California Laws Every Employer Must Know for 2026

California is rewriting the employment law playbook, and if you employ anyone in the Golden State, including remote workers, you need to pay attention. In this episode, Paychex HR expert Alex Papazis unpacks five critical employment laws hitting California in 2026: minimum wage increases, new exempt salary thresholds, stricter pay transparency rules, mandatory emergency contact updates, and the end of stay-or-pay agreements. Not in California? Don’t tune out. These regulations apply to any business with California-based employees, and history shows us that what starts in California often becomes the national standard. Get ahead of the curve — understand these changes now before they become your problem tomorrow.

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Topics include:

00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:46 – Meet Alex Papazis: HR Risk and Response Partner 03:00 – Why California employment laws matter nationwide 04:34 – Minimum wage and exempt salaries 08:12 – The value of outsourcing HR compliance 08:54 – Workplace Know Your Rights Act 12:05 – How Paychex can help navigate compliance 13:29 – Personnel file and training record requirements 16:53 – Pay transparency regulations 20:07 – Stay or pay agreement changes 21:49 – Episode recap and key takeaways 24:22 – Wrap up and thank you

DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.