Seyfarth Synopsis: On October 8, 2025, Governor Newsom signed into law SB 642, which amends California’s equal pay requirements, including revising the “pay scale” definition, extending the statute of limitations for equal pay claims to three years and permitting recovery for a period up to six years, and defining key terms such as “wages.” On October 13, 2025, Governor Newsom
Continue Reading California Amends Its Pay Transparency and Pay Data LawsEqual Pay Act
California Releases Guidance on Pay Scale Disclosures
Seyfarth Synopsis: As we blogged about previously, California passed a landmark pay transparency law in September 2022. As promised, the Labor Commissioner’s office has issued FAQs addressing big employer questions regarding who is covered, information required to be disclosed, and details on remote job postings.

On December 27, 2022, the California Labor Commissioner’s office released eagerly anticipated Frequently Asked Questions…
Continue Reading California Releases Guidance on Pay Scale DisclosuresRecent Pay Equity Cases Show That Such Cases Are Ill-Suited For Class Treatment
We’re pleased to share a thoughtful look at whether lawsuits alleging illegal pay disparities under California law are suitable as class actions. This post, recently featured on Seyfarth’s Pay Equity Issues & Insights Blog, provides some compelling reasons to argue that they’re not.
Seyfarth Synopsis: Over the past few years we have seen groundbreaking changes to equal pay laws …
Continue Reading Recent Pay Equity Cases Show That Such Cases Are Ill-Suited For Class Treatment
Pay Equity Extends to Race, Ethnicity, Without Banning Salary Inquiries
Seyfarth Synopsis: Governor Jerry Brown recently signed pay equity legislation to build on SB 358, a gender pay equity bill that he signed just last year.
Recent state pay equity initiatives (in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York) have focused on gender. California is different. Leave it to the state that last year passed the nation’s strictest pay…
Continue Reading Pay Equity Extends to Race, Ethnicity, Without Banning Salary Inquiries
New DLSE FAQs: Unequal Guidance On Equal Pay Law
Seyfarth Synopsis: New FAQs from DLSE offer some guidance on California’s “new and improved” Equal Pay Act. Most helpful is discussion of factors (skill, effort, responsibility) affecting whether work by different employees is “substantially similar” enough to require equal wages.
As Seyfarth has reported previously here, as of January 1, 2016, California has one of the most aggressive pay…
Continue Reading New DLSE FAQs: Unequal Guidance On Equal Pay Law
California Gender Pay Equality Bill To Be Strictest In Nation?
Representing what media observers call the nation’s most aggressive attempt yet to close the salary gap between men and women, SB 358 would substantially broaden California gender pay differential law. Since the bill landed on his desk September 1, all eyes have been on Governor Jerry Brown. Though aide Nancy McFadden tweeted on Women’s Equality Day (August 26) that “@JerryBrownGov…
Continue Reading California Gender Pay Equality Bill To Be Strictest In Nation?