PHRca FREE Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) CA Wage and Hour Laws Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under California law, what is the maximum number of hours an employee can work before a second meal period must be provided?
- 8 hours
- 10 hours (Correct answer)
- 12 hours
- 14 hours
Correct answer: 10 hours
California Labor Code Section 512 requires a second meal period when an employee works more than 10 hours in a day.
Question 2: Which California agency is primarily responsible for enforcing wage and hour laws?
- Employment Development Department (EDD)
- Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) (Correct answer)
- California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)
- California Fair Employment and Housing Agency (DFEH)
Correct answer: Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE)
The DLSE, also known as the Labor Commissioner's Office, is the primary agency responsible for enforcing California wage and hour laws.
Question 3: In California, what is the penalty an employer must pay for each day an employee's final wages are late after termination?
- One hour of pay per day, up to 15 days
- One day of pay per day, up to 30 days (Correct answer)
- A flat $100 per day, up to 60 days
- Two hours of pay per day, up to 10 days
Correct answer: One day of pay per day, up to 30 days
Under Labor Code Section 203, waiting time penalties accrue at the employee's daily rate of pay for each day wages remain unpaid, up to a maximum of 30 days.
Question 4: Which of the following employees is MOST likely exempt from California overtime requirements?
- A retail store cashier earning $20 per hour
- A licensed physician earning a guaranteed monthly salary (Correct answer)
- A warehouse worker on a piece-rate pay system
- A non-exempt employee working a 4/10 alternative workweek
Correct answer: A licensed physician earning a guaranteed monthly salary
Licensed physicians and surgeons earning a guaranteed monthly salary at least equal to the state minimum are exempt from overtime under California law.
Question 5: Under California's split-shift premium rules, what additional compensation must an employer provide?
- Time and a half for all split-shift hours
- One additional hour of pay at the minimum wage rate (Correct answer)
- Double time for the second portion of the shift
- A flat $50 premium per split shift worked
Correct answer: One additional hour of pay at the minimum wage rate
California requires employers to pay a split-shift premium of one hour at the state minimum wage rate when an employee works a split shift.
Question 6: What is the statute of limitations for filing a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner for unpaid minimum wages?
- One year
- Two years
- Three years (Correct answer)
- Four years
Correct answer: Three years
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 338, employees have three years to file a claim for unpaid minimum wages with the Labor Commissioner.
PHRca FREE Professional in Human Resources - California (PHRca) CA Wage and Hour Laws Questions and Answers 2
Under California law, what is the maximum number of hours an employee can work before a second meal period must be provided?