California employers need to brace themselves and prepare for the following minimum wage hikes going into effect in several cities across the state on July 1, 2022:

  • Alameda: $15.75/hour
  • Berkeley: $16.99/hour
  • Emeryville: $17.48/hour
  • Fremont: $16.00/hour
  • Long Beach: $16.73/hour for hotel workers; $16.55 for concessionaire workers
  • Los Angeles (City): $16.04 for all employers
  • Los Angeles (County, unincorporated): $15.96/hour
  • Malibu: $15.96/hour
  • Milpitas: $16.40/hour
  • Pasadena: $16.11/hour
  • San Francisco (City/County): $16.99/hour
  • Santa Monica: $15.96/hour
  • West Hollywood: $16.50/hour for employers with 50+ employees; $16.00/hour for employers with less than 50 employees; $18.35/hour for hotel workers

These local minimum wage increases do not alter the salary threshold requirement for many exempt employees. However, non-exempt employees must be paid at least the applicable minimum wage, usually based on where the employee performs the work.

On a side note, California employers should be aware that the IRS increased the optional standard mileage rate for business travel from July through December 2022 to 62.5 cents per mile.

We will continue to monitor developments in this area. If you have questions about the minimum wage increases, please contact any attorney in Kahana Feld’s Labor & Employment Litigation practice group.