1. Labor Commissioner's Office

Opinion Letters: By Subject

Letter No. Manual Section Description
1991.06.19 56.7.3.1 Alternative workweek: 9/80 schedule
1991.03.31   Alternative workweek: "Affected employees"
2009.03.23

Requesting Letter
   Alternative Workweek: During Summer Months
1992.01.21   Alternative workweek: Healthcare registry workers (Order 5)
1992.02.28   Alternative workweek: Identifiable work unit
1990.07.06   Alternative workweek: Part-time employees
2002.05.22 56.11
56.11.1		 Alternative workweek: Reduction of pay not allowed
1988.03.21   Alternative workweek: Substitute employees
1991.04.19   Alternative workweek: Temporary placement in multiple settings Joint employment
1991.10.07   Alternative workweek: Work beyond regular schedule
2019.07.26   Application of AB 1066’s Overtime Phase-In to Sheepherders
2019.05.03   Application of the ABC Test to Claims Arising Under Wage Orders
2000.09.29 48.1.6 Belo contracts
1994.01.07 19.3.5 Bonus: Banquet service charges, overtime Overtime: Banquet service charges as bonus
1993.01.19 35.2 Bonus: Effect of voluntary termination
1986.12.23 5.2.4 Bonus: Payday obligations, quarterly bonus
1988.07.14 49.2.1.2 Bonus: Payment on monthly basis (Labor Code § 204)
2016.03.23

Requesting Letter		 Quarterly Payout/pro rata Payment at termination
1987.06.03 35.5 Bonus: Substantial performance rule
1987.07.01   Bonus: Substantial performance, recovery from wages
2016.10.11

Requesting Letter		   Calculating Payment of Paid Sick Leave – Exempt Non-Exempt Employees, Employees Paid by Commission
2003.02.25   Child labor: Entertainment Industry - Reality Television
1998.09.15   Child labor: Prohibited construction work (Labor Code §1294.1)
2002.06.13-2   Commission calculations
1993.03.08 34.3.1
34.8		 Commissions: Effect of termination
1988.05.04   Commissions: Loss reconciliation Commission vs. piece rate
1993.02.22 11.3.1
29.2.3.1
34.4.1
49.2.1.2		 Commissions: Loss reconciliation Commissions: Mortgage loan officer commissions
1988.08.29   Commissions: Nursing procedures
2003.04.30   Commissions: Post termination
1990.10.01 34.4
34.4.1		 Commissions: Reserve accounts; loss reconciliation
2002.12.09-2   Commissions: Timing of payments
2008.11.25

Requesting Letter
   Compensability: Time Spent Obtaining a Transportation Worker Identification Credential Card
1991.08.30 29.2.3.1 Compensable time Owner/operator lease agreements: Costs of operating truck
1993.03.31 46.1.1
47.4.2
47.5.6.1		 Compensation: "Control of the employer" test for compensation due to employee Hours worked: On-call time, beepers
2000.11.03   Compensation: Ski industry employees
1999.09.23 3.5 Contract: What constitutes a written contract "for a definite period of time" within the meaning of Labor Code § 202 in determining the applicability of the waiting time penalty under Labor Code § 203
2002.06.12   Coverage of California's wage laws
2009.02.04

Requesting Letter
   Credit Available for Training Trust Payments
1997.02.21-2 22.3 Credit card requirement by employer where no cost to employee
1988.05.16-2   Day of rest
1988.06.13   Deductions: Authorization
1994.01.27 11.2.4
11.3.1		 Deductions: Cost of processing lost or stolen check
2000.08.01   Deductions: Debiting a manager's pay for staff salary and expenses
1991.05.07 11.3.1
34.2		 Deductions: Discussion of underlying law
2003.02.24   Deductions: From employee's wages for damage to company property
1996.07.26   Deductions from final wages-Negligence
(See LC 201.3 for timing of final wages to temporary agency employees)
2009.11.23

Requesting Letter
 11.3.1
34.2		 Deductions: From Leave Credits for Partial and Full Day Absences of Exempt Employees
1993.02.22-2 11.2.4
22.3		 Deductions: IWC Orders, Section 9
1998.09.18   Deductions: Negative election to participate in 401(k) plans (Labor Code §§ 221-224)
1999.09.22-1   Deductions: Overpayment of wages
1998.07.31   Deductions: Payroll (Labor Code § 224)
1993.04.19-1 11.3.2 Deductions: Unauthorized Deductions: IWC Orders, Section 8 Deductions: Gross negligence, simple negligence Posting of bond: Employer protection against loss of goods
1986.10.28 15.1.4
15.1.12		 Differentiation between sick leave and vacation pay Termination pay: Unearned vacation time advanced to employee deducted at time of termination
1996.05.30 3.2.2 Discharge: Layoff (contractual recall rights)
1993.05.04 3.2.2 Discharge: Layoff vs. shutdown
1992.04.27 15.1.12 Discharge: Pay at termination for holiday
1998.09.17 15.1.4 Discharge: Pay vacation at termination Vacation: "Use it or lose it" clause
1999.01.09 4.6
34.9		 Discharge: Payment of commissions upon termination
2014.11.6

Requesting Letter
   Domestic Worker Bill of Rights and IWC Order 5
2010.04.07

Requesting Letter
   Educational Internship Program
1987.01.07   Electric payroll deposit
2006.07.06   Electronic Delivery of wage statements
1998.11.10   Electronic paychecks and direct deposit (Labor Code §§ 226 and 1174)
1991.02.25-1   Employee expenses: Automobile insurance requirement (Labor Code § 2802)
1993.01.07-1 43.6.8 Employees: Vocational trainees (students) Minimum wage: Trainees, application, exemption
2002.06.18 55.2.1.1
55.2.1.2
55.2.1.2.1		 Employer: Definition of employer
1993.01.19-2 22.3 Employer must pay for mandated safety training
1994.06.21 31.3.2.1 Employment applications: Release of liability for disclosure of information
2000.05.17   Employment status: Culinary externs
1998.11.12   Employment status: Interns
2002.05.01 51.6.10 Exempt employee: Calculation of pro rata deduction from salary
2002.04.08 51.6.12
51.6.15		 Exempt employee: No reduction in salary for day absent if there is a reasonable expectation that employee is to perform some duty
2002.03.12 51.6.7 Exempt employee: Reduction of salary in conjunction with reduction of hours in workday or days in workweek
2003.01.15   Exempt status: Professionals Wages: Payment based on employer's receipt of payment for services rendered
1998.10.05 52.3 Exemption: Administrative (insurance company claims reps)
2007.10.29   Exemption: Administrative (IT)
1999.07.26   Exemption: Administrative, recruiters of temporary workers
1993.07.06   Exemption: Executive, Applicability of Federal caselaw
1994.01.06   Exemption: Executive, "customarily and regularly"
1997.04.28   Exemption: Executive, remuneration test
1997.09.03 Exemption: Executive, remuneration test
1998.09.08   Exemption: Outside salesperson, real estate
1994.02.03-2   Exemption: Personal attendant (Order 15)
1997.03.10   Exemption: Professional, physician assistants and nurse practitioners
2003.01.13   Exemption: Site surveillance technicians
1997.03.05 54.10.7.1 Exemption: Teachers
2003.01.17   Exemption: Teachers
1996.12.30 46.6.6 Exemption: Trainee intern programs
2003.05.23   Exemption: Determination of exempt or nonexempt status of officers and "key administrative personnel" employed by labor unions
1993.01.07   Exemptions: Salary basis test for administrative, executive, and professional employees
1994.08.14 29.2.3.1 Expenses: Reimbursement (Labor Code § 2802)
1997.03.21-2 22.3
29.2.3.1		 Expenses: Reimbursement by direct deposit may not be compelled
1993.02.22-3 22.3
29.2.3.1		 Expenses: Reimbursement for cost of insurance required by employer are recoverable (Labor Code § 2802)
1998.11.05   Expenses: Reimbursement, purchase of excess auto insurance (Labor Code § 2802)
2003.02.03   Farm labor contractor license requirements
2000.11.02-1   Farm labor contractor status
1993.04.19-3   Garment manufacturing license: Temporary employment agencies
1994.08.09   Garment manufacturing: Out-of-state supplier contracting in California
1994.03.03 Exempt status: Additional compensation
1998.09.11   Hours worked: Charging applicants for training
1996.07.12   Hours worked: Meal periods (employee required to remain on premises
1995.11.01   Hours worked: Meal periods (healthcare industry)
2001.01.12   Hours worked: Meal periods restricted to employer's premises
1994.02.16 46.2 Hours worked: On-call time (tests, travel, and training)
1993.03.31 46.1.1
47.4.2
47.5.6.1		 Hours worked: On-call time, beepers Compensation: "Control of the employer" test for compensation due to employee
1998.12.28 45.1.5.1
46.6.3
47.5.5.1		 Hours worked: "On-call time," resident apartment managers
1991.11.01-3   Hours worked: Overtime, truck drivers adding covered to uncovered hours
1992.01.28 47.5.6.1 Hours worked: Pagers; On Duty Meal Period
2002.01.29 43.6.4.1
44.2.2
47.4.2
47.7.1		 Hours worked: Public transit employees start and end shifts at different locations Minimum wage
1998.05.29   Hours worked: Sleep periods for ambulance drivers and attendants (Orders 5 and 9-98)
1998.11.09   Hours worked: Sleep shifts (Order 5)
2002.12.11   Hours worked: Split shift
2002.02.21 46.3
46.3.1
46.3.2
47.5.1.1		 Hours worked: Time spent traveling on out-of-town business trip
1993.11.29   Hours worked: Training or tryout time
1998.11.12-1   Hours worked: Training time
1989.12.07   Hours worked: Travel time
1988.05.16 46.6.4 Hours worked: Uniforms, change time
1994.02.03-3 46.6.4
48.1.9.1		 Hours worked: Uniforms, change time
1998.12.23 46.6.4 Hours worked: Uniforms, change time Hours worked: Effect of CBA on determining "hours worked"
1988.01.05   Hours worked: Unrelieved meal periods
1986.11.04 15.1.4
15.1.12		 Hours worked: Vacation, flex time off
1993.12.09 48.1.2 Hours worked: Workday Overtime: Pyramiding
1986.12.01 48.1.3 Hours worked: Workweek
2002.01.22 22.1.1 Illegal to require payment to apply for employment (Labor Code § 450)
1994.04.11   Independent contractor vs. employee: Assistant golf professional
2000.05.17-1   Independent contractors vs. employee, registered nurses with a nursing registry
1997.05.27 50.13.1 Independent contractors: "Promotional extras"
1997.12.03   IWC classification: Golf courses with restaurants
1998.07.29   IWC classification: Private clubs (Orders 5 and 10)
1998.09.14-1   IWC coverage: Agricultural occupations, Order 14 vs. 13 (packaging facility located on grower's farm)
1993.02.02 43.6.11 IWC coverage: Air charter service (Order 9)
1989.04.21   IWC coverage: Cut flower industry (Order 14)
1997.03.04   IWC coverage: Cut flower industry (Order 14)
1989.06.09   IWC coverage: Cut flower industry (Order 14)
1997.12.24   IWC coverage: Employees of temporary employment agencies
2003.01.10   IWC coverage: Employees of temporary employment agency placed with public employers
2001.12.03   IWC coverage: Log truck drivers (Order 16)
1990.07.23   IWC coverage: Maintenance (Order 5) Overtime computation: Piece rate
1994.10.03 43.7.1.3 IWC coverage: Multi-purpose firm with distinctly separate units
1994.09.26   IWC coverage: Multi-purpose firm with distinctly separate units
1997.07.22-1   IWC coverage: Order 5 overlap with occupational orders
2005.11.23   IWC Coverage: Personal Attendant definition: Scope of Duties (Order 15)
1993.11.03 43.7.1.3 IWC coverage: Printing (Order 1) IWC coverage: Newspaper publishing (Order 4)
1996.02.21   IWC coverage: Trucking company support personnel
1991.04.19   Joint employment Alternative workweek: Temporary placement in multiple settings
1994.08.04 43.6.1 Jurisdiction: Military bases; Temporary/Full Time Employees in oil spill cleanup; Employees temporarily employed in another state
1994.08.04 43.6.1 Jurisdiction: Temporary/Full Time Employees in oil spill cleanup
1994.08.04 43.6.1 Jurisdiction: Employees temporarily employed in another state
1995.04.19   Jurisdiction: Multiplicity of actions
1985.02.14   Jurisdiction: National Forests
1986.07.31   Jurisdiction: NLRA preemption
2002.06.24   Labor Code § 233: Sick leave to attend to family
2003.05.21   Labor Code § 233: Sick leave to attend to family
1993.05.04-2 24.3 Labor Code § 973: Advertising for employees during a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute
2003.01.30   Labor Code § 2928: Wage deductions for tardiness; apparent contradiction between code sections
2007.08.29   Mandated Security Officer Training Time: Compensability
2009.06.09

Requesting Letter		   Meal Periods: Fuel Carriers Subject to Federal Safety Regulations
2002.12.09-1   Meal periods: Impact of Senate Bill (SB) 1208 on an existing collective bargaining agreement
1991.06.03   Meal Periods - Obligation to provide
2002.09.04   Meal periods: "On duty"
1992.01.28 47.5.6.1 Meal period: On duty; Pagers
2013.11.15

Requesting Letter
   Meal Periods: On-duty drivers of hazardous & flammable materials
2003.10.17   Meal periods: Private right of action to enforce amounts owed under the meal period provisions of the IWC Orders and Labor Code
1994.09.28   Meal Periods: Purported waiver of state standards
2002.01.29 43.6.4.1
44.2.2
47.4.2
47.7.1		 Minimum wage Hours worked: Public transit employees start and end shifts at different locations
2001.04.25   Minimum wage: California State University employees
1988.10.27 43.6.5
43.6.7		 Minimum Wage: No exemption for employees of religious organizations Volunteers: Definition of volunteer vs. employee
1993.01.07-1 43.6.8 Minimum wage: Trainees, application, exemption Employees: Vocational trainees (students)
2008.07.07-2

Requesting Letter		   Money Network Checks - Means of Payment of Wages under Labor Code § 212
2002.08.12   Negative election to participate in 401(k) plans
1994.07.14   Outside salesperson
1992.04.27-1   Overtime Wages, regular rate of pay: Calculation for employee working at two different hourly rates
1991.11.01-4   Overtime: 24-hour employees
1998.11.04   Overtime: Airport shuttle drivers
1994.01.07 19.3.5 Overtime: Banquet service charges as bonus Bonus: Banquet service charges, overtime
1991.01.04   Overtime: "Belo" contracts
1991.01.07-1 48.1.4
48.1.6		 Overtime: "Belo" contracts; premium pay
1991.04.02 50.7.1.3 Overtime: Collective bargaining agreements
1994.03.25   Overtime: Combining covered and uncovered hours
2002.06.14-1   Overtime: Commission pay plans
1988.03.21-2   Overtime: Excessive, day of rest
1992.10.02   Overtime: Extended care facilities (14/80 rule)
1987.08.27   Overtime: Federal Service Contract Act
1997.12.03-2   Overtime: Fluctuating workweek
2002.12.13   Overtime: Limousine drivers
1983.11.25 34.1 Overtime: Mechanics, flat rate
2000.01.19   Overtime: No pyramiding of hours
1996.07.10 50.8.1.1 Overtime: Provisions of IWC wage order. for two-axle trucks not regulated by Department of Transporation
1993.12.09 48.1.2 Overtime: Pyramiding Hours worked: Workday
1992.05.14 47.5.1.1 Overtime: Regular rate of pay, multiple rates
2001.04.09   Overtime: Saturday and Sunday work: Public Works employment contracting
1988.06.02   Overtime: Wage plus commission Wages, regular rate of pay: Basic wage plus commission
1990.07.23   Overtime computation: Piece rate IWC coverage: Maintenance (Order 5)
1994.02.03-4 50.9.8 Overtime exemption: Ambulance drivers and attendants
1994.02.07 50.6
50.6.4.3		 Overtime exemption: Commissioned sales (use of draw in computing)
1994.06.17-2   Overtime exemption: Commissions ("principally")
1997.05.16 50.8.1.1
50.9.3		 Overtime exemption: "For hire" motor trucks
1991.08.30 29.2.3.1 Owner/operator lease agreements: Costs of operating truck Compensable time
2015.08.07   Paid Sick Leave
1995.07.20 41.2.3 Paperless time recording system
1997.01.02 22.3 Patronizing employer: Employer cannot require employee to purchase truck for use in business (Labor Code § 450)
1993.04.19 5.2.4 Pay day obligations (Labor Code § 204)
1987.03.03 34.2 Pay: Minimum wage, draw offsets
1992.12.18   Payday obligations: Direct deposit
1994.02.03-1 9.1.9
9.1.9.3
41.2.3		 Payday obligations: Direct deposit
1996.11.12 9.1.9 Payday obligations: Direct deposit
2008.07.07

Requesting Letter 1
Requesting Letter 2
   Payroll/Debit Cards - Means of Payment of Wages Labor Code §§ 212 and 213
1997.10.21   Payroll direct deposit: ATM access
2002.12.12   Payroll: Payment by cash dispensing machine, violation of Labor Code §§ 212, 221, 450
1994.10.03-2 55.3.3 Personal attendant: "Other significant work"
1991.04.24   Personal attendant: Nonprofit corporation respite care workers, IWC Order 5
2005.11.23   Personal Attendant definition: Scope of Duties - IWC Order 15
1997.10.21-1   Personal attendants vs. practical nurses, intrusive care
1998.08.27 42.6 Personnel files: Obligations of employer to provide employees access
1998.08.12   Piece rate calculation
2003.10.17   Private right of action to enforce amounts owed under the meal period provisions of the IWC Orders and Labor Code
1997.12.04 37.2.6 Public Works: partner coverage
2001.04.09   Public Works employment contracting: Saturday and Sunday work
1989.03.08   Reporting time pay
1992.01.30   Reporting time pay: Absent a specific agreement, eight hours of labor constitutes a day's work
1997.08.25   Reporting time pay: Poor performance
2003.04.23   Resident employees: IWC Order 5-2001 (as updated)
1986.01.03 45.3.3 Rest breaks
2002.01.28   Rest period provisions
2002.02.22 45.3.3 Rest period requirements
1999.02.16 45.3.1 Rest Periods
1995.06.02   Rest periods
2001.09.17 45.3.5
45.3.6.1		 Rest periods: Order 16 (on-site construction) Rest periods: CBA exception
2009.08.19

Requesting Letter
   Salary Basis Test - Work Schedule and Salary Reduction to Avoid Layoff
2002.06.13   Salesperson exemption (Orders 4 and 7)
2002.05.17 41.2.1 Semimonthly pay periods for nonexempt salaried employees (Labor Code § 226)
2000.11.02 19.3.5 Service charge not gratuity
1998.01.12   Similarly situated employees
2001.03.22   Stand-by time
2002.06.13-1   Tardiness
1986.09.15 4.3.1 Termination pay: Obligation to return in case of quit
1986.10.28 15.1.4
15.1.12		 Termination pay: Unearned vacation time advanced to employee deducted at time of termination Differentiation between sick leave and vacation pay
1999.05.17   Third party beneficiary claims
2005.09.08   Tip pooling policy: lawfulness of mandatory policy and criteria for participation in mandatory policy
1998.12.28-1 19.3.1 Tip pooling
2001.06.22   Tips: Dancers (Orders 5 and 10)
1993.09.07 43.6.8 Trainees: Criteria utilized for true trainee situation vs. employee
1993.10.21   Student Trainee vs. employee; work permit requirement
1994.11.17 29.2.3.4 Training: Cost of licensure training not usually payable by employer
2003.04.22   Travel time pay for employee with alternative worksites
2001.02.04   Truck Driver/Transportation Industry
1994.02.16-1 45.5.2 Uniforms: Requirement, clothing without metal
1991.02.13 45.5.3 Uniforms: Requirements
1990.09.18 45.5.6 Uniforms: Tropical shirts
1986.12.30 15.1.4
15.1.5		 Vacation: Accrual rate may not decelerate during employment
1987.03.16 15.1.5 Vacation: Based on proportionate accrual and no forfeiture
1992.03.03   Vacation: Bonus days
1986.12.24   Vacation: Cafeteria style plans
2003.01.28   Vacation: Calculation Waiting time penalty: Calculation
1986.11.17 15.1.10 Vacation: Calculation on draw, percentages of commissions
1986.05.20 15.1.10 Vacation: Car allowance
1994.03.08 15.1.10 Vacation: Cash out at lesser rates prohibited
2003.01.21   Vacation: Change in plan
1991.01.07 15.1.4
15.1.4.1		 Vacation: Earnings cap
1993.08.18 15.1.4 Vacation: Earnings cap (reasonableness)
1987.06.13 43.6.11 Vacation: Federal Service Contract Act (See also O.L. 1987.09.08)
1987.09.08 43.6.11 Vacation: Federal Service Contract Act (See also O.L. 1987.06.13)
1987.07.13 15.1.10 Vacation: Longevity bonuses by temporary service agencies in lieu of vacation
1990.09.24 15.1.3 Vacation: "Paid time off"
1997.10.01   Vacation: Pay as "wages"
1987.01.14-1 15.1.12 Vacation: Personal days off
1987.05.11 15.1.10 Vacation: Pro rata pay case-by-case basis
1988.08.04 15.1.4
15.1.5		 Vacation: Probationary periods, accrual and acceleration
1991.05.16   Vacation: Recovery of unearned vacation, prospective policy amendment
1987.10.06 15.1.14 Vacation: Sabbatical leave (See also, O.L. 1987.07.13-1)
1987.07.13-1 15.1.13 Vacation: Sabbatical leave (See also, O.L. 1987.10.06)
1986.12.13 15.1.13 Vacation: Sabbatical leave
1987.03.11 15.1.12.1 Vacation: Sick leave used for personal business
1988.07.25 Vacation: Earnings cap
1998.09.17 15.1.4 Vacation: "Use it or lose it" clause Discharge: Pay vacation at termination
1987.05.14 15.1.2 Vacation: When not paid, employees allowed unpaid time off
1988.10.27 43.6.5
43.6.7		 Volunteers: Definition of volunteer vs. employee Minimum Wage: No exemption for employees of religious organizations
2008.11.25-1

Requesting Letter
   Wage Deduction: Authorization for Overpayments Due to Payroll Practice
1994.06.17-1 49.2.1.2 Wages, regular rate of pay
1988.06.02   Wages, regular rate of pay: Basic wage plus commission Overtime: Wage plus commission
1991.03.06 35.7 Wages, regular rate of pay: Bonuses included in overtime calculation
1992.04.27-1   Wages, regular rate of pay: Calculation for employee working at two different hourly rates Overtime
2003.01.29   Wages, regular rate of pay: Calculation where employer wishes to provide additional compensation to employee to "make them whole" when employee is "called off" scheduled work because of drop in workload
1992.01.29   Wages, regular rate of pay: Explicit agreement
1993.02.22-1 49.2.1.2 Wages, regular rate of pay: Piece rate, calculation
1998.09.14 9.1.2.1 Wages: Bonus paid in kind Labor Code § 212)
1988.03.28 49.2.1.2 Wages: Calculation salary plus commissions
2002.12.09   Wages: Camp counselors
1988.06.15 49.2.1.2 Wages: Hourly rate plus commissions
1988.05.05 5.2.4 Wages: Pay day obligations (Labor Code § 204)
2003.01.15   Wages: Payment based on employer's receipt of payment for services rendered Exempt status: Professionals
2002.03.01 51.6.6
51.6.21.1		 Wages: Salary basis test exempt employees
2002.05.06 51.6.1 Wages: Salary requirement, disciplinary deductions from exempt's salary
1987.02.17 49.2.1.2 Wages: Value of prizes calculated in overtime
2003.01.28   Waiting time penalty: Calculation Vacation: Calculation
1997.07.15   Waiting time penalty: Collective bargaining agreements
1996.11.20 4.6.2 Waiting time penalty: "Willfulness" (inability to pay)
1998.09.11-1   Work recesses: IWC Order 8-80, Section 3(E)
1992.11.05   Workers' compensation insurance coverage: Employee leasing company
1998.07.15   Workers' compensation insurance coverage: Requirement for relatives
1997.07.22   Workers' compensation insurance: Out-of-state employers
1993.10.21 43.6.8 Work permit requirement: Student Trainee vs. employee

March 27, 2020