6.25.24
By Jennifer Jacobus, PHRca, SDEA CEO 
PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) is a term that has kept employers awake at night since inception in 2004.
PAGA authorizes aggrieved employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. These violations can arise in any number of ways. For example, if an employer fails to pay workers overtime in accordance with California’s wage and hour laws, that may be the basis for a PAGA claim.
PAGA requires that new claim notices, responses, and certain court documents be filed with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA).
California Governor Gavin Newsom just unveiled proposed legislation that would provide significant reform to PAGA, offering much-needed relief to employers. If the legislation is passed, we will see an overhaul that would limit the types of employees who could bring claims, give employers a better chance to cure mistakes, reduce possible penalties, and boost procedural mechanisms that would reduce claims in court.
What this might mean for employers will be covered in SDEA’s Mid-Year Employment Law Update. To register for this event and find out what else is in store for employers heading into the second half of the year, click HERE.