New Minimum Wage, Overtime, and Salary Rules for Agricultural Workers
Along with minimum wage increases, new overtime rules affecting non-exempt agricultural workers took effect in California on January 1, 2019. Under the new Order, agricultural employers with 26 or more employees (large employers) at any time during a pay period, are now required to pay employees overtime after 9.5 hours per day or 55 hours per week. By 2022, employers will be required to pay employees overtime after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. The new minimum wage for large employers is $12 per hour and will rise to $15 per hour in 2022.
Agricultural employers with 25 or fewer employees (small employers) at any time during a pay period will continue to be required to pay employees overtime after 10 hours per day with no limit on the number of hours worked per week. Beginning January 1, 2022, employers will be required to pay employees overtime after 9.5 hours per day or 55 hours per week. Beginning January 1, 2025, employers will be required to pay employees overtime after 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. The new minimum wage for small employers is $11 per hour and will rise to $15 per hour in 2023.
Agricultural employers are now also required to increase the minimum monthly salary for exempt managers/supervisors. Employers with 26 or more employees are now required to pay exempt managers/supervisors a minimum of $4,160 per month. This amount will increase to $5,200 in 2022. Employers with 25 or fewer employees are now required to pay exempt managers/supervisors $3,814 per month. This amount will increase to $5,200 in 2023.
Irrigators, sheepherders, and commercial fishing vessel crew members are now entitled to be compensated for overtime work as above starting on January 1, 2019 if employed by a large employer, and January 1, 2022 if employed by a small employer.
Click HERE for a PDF chart of the new requirements.
If you are an employer and need the new labor posters, please contact our office for more information to place an order.
