The State of California’s Labor Commissioner's Office recently released revised 2025 versions of the state’s minimum wage and whistleblower protection notices. Similarly, California’s Department of Industrial Relations revised its Workers’ Compensation notice for the new year. Affected employers must update their California state and federal labor law posters to include the revised 2025 notices.
What Are California’s Minimum Wage Rates in 2025?
On January 1st, 2025, California’s state minimum wage rose from $16.00 per hour to $16.50 per hour for all employees, regardless of the number of employees. The increase is part of a multi-year update initially created to help businesses keep up with the cost of living. The increase in the minimum wage rate also requires that employees earn at least $68,640 annually to be considered exempt from receiving overtime. The revised poster also removes outdated 2021 wage and lodging credit information.
However, the recent update to California’s minimum wage does not change the minimum wages previously set for two different industries within the state: fast food and health care. Posters for fast food and health care facility workers will most likely be released later this year.
It is also important to note that many California cities, counties, and municipalities have their own minimum wages, which were updated on January 1st, 2025. Affected employers within those areas may also be required to display a minimum wage notice for that increase along with the California minimum wage poster
What Updates Are Included on the 2025 Whistleblower Notice?
Additionally, California’s Labor Commissioner’s Office released an updated 2025 “Whistleblowers Are Protected” Notice. On January 1st, 2025, California law expanded whistleblower protections. Specifically, the notice emphasizes that employees are safeguarded from retaliation when engaging in protected activity and when employers believe that the employees have or may engage in such actions. However, there may be no proof that the employee did so.
What Updates Are Included on the 2025 Workers’ Compensation Notice?
Finally, the state’s Department of Industrial Relations released its updated 2025 Workers’ Compensation notice. Specifically, the notice includes an addition clarifying an employee’s rights to consult a licensed attorney for advice, with attorney fees typically deducted from the employee's recovery. As always, this notice emphasizes the rights of employees under workers' compensation laws, including clear explanations of benefits and the procedures for filing claims. The state agency designed this notice to ensure workers fully understand their rights and the steps they must take if injured on the job.
Employer Takeaways
California employers must conspicuously display the revised 2025 Minimum Wage, Whistleblower Protections, and Workers’ Compensation notices, which took effect January 1, in an area easily accessible to workers. For example businesses in San Francisco, the San Francisco Labor Law Poster makes it simple to stay compliant with both state and local posting rules.
Labor Law Posters Online's revised 2025 California State & Federal Labor Law Poster now includes all three of these recently released posters. Labor Law Posters Online guarantees that all recent updates to any required state and federal posters are included on our compliance notices. Current Labor Law Posters Online customers with annual poster update services will receive the revised posters at no cost.