California HR & Labor Compliance Specialist

Position Title

California HR & Labor Compliance Specialist

Location

California (Hybrid/Remote options available)

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced California HR & Labor Compliance Specialist with deep expertise in California employment law, wage and hour compliance, employee relations, and labor code enforcement. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience managing HR compliance issues involving meal and rest break policies, payroll practices, employee recordkeeping, expense reimbursement, retaliation prevention, wage statement compliance, and PAGA-related risk mitigation.

This role is critical in ensuring organizational compliance with California Labor Code requirements and maintaining best-in-class HR policies and procedures.

The candidate should be highly familiar with California labor code issues including those outlined in recent PAGA and wage-and-hour litigation matters.

Key Responsibilities

Labor Law & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with California Labor Code requirements, wage orders, and employment regulations.
• Conduct HR audits related to:
• Meal and rest break compliance
• Overtime and wage calculations
• Payroll accuracy
• Wage statement compliance
• Final pay requirements
• Employee classification
• Expense reimbursement practices
• Advise leadership on legal exposure and corrective action plans related to PAGA, wage-and-hour claims, and employee complaints.
• Develop and maintain compliant HR policies, handbooks, SOPs, and training materials.

Employee Relations

• Investigate employee complaints involving:
• Retaliation
• Harassment
• Wage disputes
• Break violations
• Discrimination
• Whistleblower complaints
• Partner with managers to resolve workplace issues while minimizing legal risk.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all investigations.

Payroll & Recordkeeping Compliance

• Oversee compliance involving:
• Labor Code § 204 (timely payment of wages)
• Labor Code § 226(a) (accurate wage statements)
• Labor Code §§ 1174, 1174.5, and 1198.5 (record retention and personnel/payroll records)
• Labor Code §§ 201–204 (final pay requirements)
• Coordinate with payroll vendors and ensure accurate employee records and timekeeping systems.

Training & Prevention

• Train managers and supervisors on:
• California meal and rest break laws
• Anti-retaliation protections
• Wage discussion protections
• Documentation best practices
• Employee accommodations and protected leave rights
• Assist in developing proactive compliance programs to reduce litigation exposure.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of California HR compliance experience
• Strong working knowledge of:
• PAGA compliance and litigation prevention
• California wage and hour laws
• IWC Wage Orders
• Employee relations investigations
• Payroll compliance
• Labor Code enforcement
• Experience handling:
• Meal/rest break compliance
• Expense reimbursement issues
• Employee records requests
• Retaliation and whistleblower complaints
• Familiarity with California Labor Code sections including:
• § 512
• § 226.7
• § 204
• § 2802
• § 226(a)
• §§ 1174, 1174.5, 1198.5
• §§ 226(b)(c)
• § 232
• §§ 98.6 and 1102.5
• §§ 201–204
• Strong documentation, communication, and investigation skills
• Ability to work independently and advise leadership confidently

Preferred Qualifications

• PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, or SHRM-SCP certification
• Experience supporting logistics, warehouse, transportation, or delivery operations
• Prior experience responding to PAGA claims or labor agency investigations

Knowledge of multi-state employment compliance is a plus