How The Guide Works
Simple steps, ready-to-use forms, and law updates for California small businesses. Built by a California employment attorney.
WHAT YOU GET WITH THE GUIDE
The Steps
Know exactly what to do when employee issues come up — from write-ups and leave requests to final pay and terminations.
The Forms
Ready-to-use employment forms and templates, available in English and Spanish.
Legal Updates
Know what changed. Plain-English updates when California employment law changes: what's new, whether it applies to you, and what to do about it.
COMMON EMPLOYMENT ISSUES COVERED
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Ending an employment relationship is one of the fastest ways to get into trouble if you’re not careful. The Guide shows you how to handle terminations and resignations properly—because “it felt fair at the time” is not a legal defense.
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Hiring in California isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about forms, classifications, and disclosures that absolutely count. We help you get it right from day one, so your “great hire” doesn’t come with a surprise legal sequel.
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Employee complaints can escalate quickly if handled the wrong way—or ignored entirely. We guide you through how to respond, document, and address issues before they turn into formal complaints or long email threads you wish you’d never opened.
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California wage and hour laws are detailed, strict, and deeply uninterested in your good intentions. We help you understand overtime, classifications, and pay rules so small payroll mistakes don’t become very large problems.
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California takes breaks seriously—sometimes more seriously than the work itself. We explain when breaks are required, how to track them, and what to do when real life gets in the way (because it always does).
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Between PTO policies, paid sick leave laws, and local rules, time-off compliance gets confusing fast. We help you create policies that make sense, stay compliant, and don’t require a decoder ring to explain.
Common Issues Business Owners Face
If it isn't written down, it's hard to prove it happened. The Guide shows you how to document performance and conduct problems clearly and consistently, so your records tell the real story if you ever need them.
discipline & write-ups
Leave & Accommodations
An employee needs time off for a medical issue, a new baby, or a family member — or needs changes at work because of a disability or pregnancy. California's rules are stricter than federal law, and a quick"no" can turn into a claim. The Guide shows you what to ask, what to document, and what you're required to do.
FORMS FOR REAL EMPLOYEE ISSUES
The Guide includes 16 ready-to-use forms and templates for hiring, managing, documenting, and separating employees. Every one is available in English and Spanish.
Examples Include:
Set clear expectations from day one with the employee’s role, pay, schedule, and basic terms.
Offer Letter
Arbitration Agreement
Set up how employment disputes will be resolved before one starts — privately, and often at lower cost than court.
Severance Agreement
Used at termination to resolve potential legal claims and prevent an employee from suing after they leave, in exchange for severance pay.
Plus 13 more, including a write-up form and a termination letter.
Firing Someone? Read This First
Get our free California Termination Checklist — the steps to take before you let an employee go.