Contractors who hire workers have unique requirements in California, and bank-busting fines for sidestepping the requirements.  Save yourself grief and sleep at night by following construction employment rules.

Most regulations come through the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR):  www.dir.ca.gov

Within DIR you will find many key regulatory agencies for construction.

 Labor Commissioner’s Office (DLSE):    www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlse.html

Employment regulations include: job-site posters, carrying workers comp, reporting new hires, minimum wage requirements for hourly/salary/requiring tools, meal breaks, travel pay, and more.  Training on employment law is available through many sources, including through VCE for members.

 Public Works (CMU):   www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/dlsepublicworks.html

California public works labor law is unique and complicated.  Learn what is required before you bid.

Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS):  www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/das.html

Apprenticeship is an excellent way to learn the trades.  For the construction trades, it is specific and regulated.  See the Division of Apprenticeship Standards website for formal Apprenticeship programs and rules.  If it is not official Apprenticeship, it is pre-apprenticeship or just construction training.

Cal/OSHA; Division of Occupational Safety and Health:  www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/dosh1.html

Safety training and support is required of employers.  Join VCE to get weekly tailgate training materials and news about upcoming safety regulation changes.  For more, go to our Safety Resources page.

Labor Enforcement Task Force (LETF):  www.dir.ca.gov/LETF/LETF.html

Agencies in California coordinate and share information in order to identify and punish violators of labor laws and tax laws in the underground economy.