Cal Jobs- What You Need to Know

Ah, California. Mountains, oceans, forests, art and culture, all within sight of the beach. Who wouldn’t want to live here? I got sick of asking myself that question and moved here about 4 years ago- I’ve never looked back. I have come across some things in the job market that are a bit different in California, and I would like to pass them along to you in the hopes that you learn from my experiences! So what’s so different about these Cal jobs than jobs in other places?

The biggest thing that may be different out here as opposed to other places you’ve worked is that California is an at-will state. This means that both employer and employee are free to terminate their relationship at any time and for any reason- or for no reason at all. However, anti-discrimination laws still apply- you can’t be let go based on any of the following conditions, as defined by the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA):

Race

Color

Religion

National Origin/Ancestry

Physical Disability

Mental Disability

Medical Condition

Marital Status

Sex or Sexual Orientation

Age (with respect to people over 40 years old)

Pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition

Now, let’s talk taxes, everybody’s favorite topic, to be sure! California has some very specific laws about what employers may deduct from your paycheck- they may only deduct the taxes required by law. This means that they may not charge you for a uniform, for a physical, for having a picture taken, or for any “business expenses”. They also can’t deduct your gratuities from your check, and they are solely responsible for absorbing “breakage” as a cost of doing business.

Minimum wage in California is also different than in other places- namely, at $8 an hour, it’s even higher than the Federally mandated minimum. This also applies to servers, so if you are used to making $2.51 an hour waiting tables, your first Cal paycheck may be a nice surprise! In cases where there’s a conflict between State and Federal law- the jobseeker wins, and must be paid at the higher rate!

As far as holidays are concerned, there is nothing in the law that says that an employer has to close on a certain day, or that they must pay you more for working on a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday. Make sure you check with your potential employer to see if their holiday policy is in line with what you’ve come to expect.

Lastly, let’s talk pay periods. There are specific rules in California about when you get paid, namely, you must be paid by the 26^th of the month for all hours worked between the 1^st and the 16^th, and you must be paid by the 10^th day of the following month for all hours worked between the 16^th and month-end. Bear all of the above in mind when you start your Cal jobs search, and you won’t be in for any nasty surprises!