If you’re running a medical practice in California, you already know: managing staff here is no walk in the park. The state’s labor laws are famously complex—and aggressively enforced. Here are three reasons managing practice staff in California can be especially tough:
1. California’s HR & Payroll Laws Are Among the Most Complex in the Nation. California law sets high standards—often well above federal or other state requirements. Here are three areas where physician practices often run into complications:
- Overtime Compliance: California requires time-and-a-half after 8 hours in a single workday and double time after 12 hours—even if an employee doesn’t work a full 40-hour week. Practices with per diem or clinical staff working long or irregular shifts are especially impacted.
- Leave Mandates: California mandates a broad range of protected leave laws (including paid sick leave, CFRA, and pregnancy disability leave) that apply to full-time, part-time, and temporary staff—which often includes rotating clinical and front office teams.
- Payroll Requirements: Practices must comply with strict wage statement requirements, including accurate overtime, sick leave balances, and pay period details—errors here are a top source of wage claims and can be especially risky in medical settings where last-minute shift changes, variable hours, and rotating clinical staff are common.
2. The Laws Change. Constantly. California’s legislature introduces 4–5,000 bills every two years—many related to employment. Even if only a fraction pass, they can create big shifts for your practice. Staying current is practically a job in itself.
3. Local Ordinances May Set Even Higher Standards. Cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Berkeley have their own rules—covering minimum wage, paid sick leave, and more. If your practice operates in one of these areas, you may be subject to both state and local requirements, creating another layer of compliance complexity.
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How MedWay Help
MedWay gives independent practices a simpler way to manage HR, payroll, and staffing. You get a dedicated HR & payroll support team—not a call center—who understands your practice and can guide you through California’s evolving requirements with practical, day-to-day support.
Here’s how we help:
- Avoid Costly Mistakes: We help you navigate California’s shifting wage, leave, and payroll rules so you don’t get caught off guard.
- Policies to Your Practice: From paid sick leave to overtime tracking, we provide policies that can support your schedule and staff model.
- Stay Ahead of New Laws: Our team tracks state and local legislation, so you can be a step ahead of new compliance requirements.
Managing HR and payroll doesn’t have to be a full-time job. We’ll help you get it right—so you can focus on patient care.