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.

Need help navigating new employment laws where you do business? Let our experts help: https://bit.ly/meet-paychex

Have a question for upcoming episodes or a topic you want covered? Let us know: https://payx.me/thrivetopics

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.