Working in California

Whether you’ve just moved to California or you’re looking for a change in career, or whether you’re unfortunate enough to have to look for a new job because of circumstances that were beyond your control, there’s a few things you have to consider before making your choice. Always make sure you work with a reputable company or employer, check whether you like the atmosphere at work and don’t let yourself get too stressed out. Most importantly, enjoy yourself and love what you do, because you’ll be spending quite some time doing it!

General information for employees

As in any country or state, there are certain rules an employer must observe regarding payment, free time and holidays in order to ensure the welfare of their employees. In California, the minimum wage an employer is bound legally to pay any employee is eight dollars an hour and this rate must be paid, except in very rare exceptions, for example, when the employee is closely related to the employer.  Work hours that count as normal are 8 hours a day, 40 h a working week. Any hours that you work that aren’t included in this are to be paid at 1,5 times the ordinary hourly rate since they count as overtime. There are no regulations concerning work on days that are state holidays. Your employer can decide when and for how long he would like you to work, within the aforementioned limits. Vacation regulations vary from employer to employer, and you should gather information regarding how your particular employer handles the issue. If you are qualified but cannot seem to find a job, or if you are unemployed for some other reason, don’t worry too much – there are benefits available to you, and there are also programs that can help you with your job search, if need be. If you are unemployed and disabled, a few extra rules need to be observed.  Make sure you find out all the rules and laws that apply to your particular situation so you can take full advantage of all your rights and know when your employer is doing something wrong.

Want to set up your own business?

Creating your own business can be a very good idea if you feel you don’t like to work with someone watching you or with a supervisor who has a higher rank in the hierarchy of your workplace. It’s quite motivating to know that the only reason you’re working is for your own profit, not for that of your boss or to satisfy your employer.  If you like to work independently and prefer taking the initiative over taking directions, then this might be a good idea for you, whether you’re just sick of being an employee, have an existing business you want to carry on, or whether you’re new to the field and want to start from scratch and make it big. Obviously, you’ll want your big plans to be legal, so there are a few things you should observe. It’s important that you get a business permit. Those are handed out by different agencies and there are a few requirements that your business must meet in order to be eligible for a permit. These requirements vary from branch to branch, so make sure you get all the information you need so as to set everything up the way you want it and get the permit as quickly as possible in order to start working. If you own a business, you probably have a lot of influence over how environmentally friendly it is. Out of respect for your fellow human beings and for planet Earth, 
you should do your best to maximize your profits even while minimizing the negative impact your business has on the environment, even keep it nonexistent if you can. There is help available in the domain of pollution prevention – we only have one Earth and this is to be taken quite seriously.


So, once you’ve found the right job, signed all the contracts or gotten your business permit, there is nothing to stop you from pushing your career ahead and making it as big as you can! After all, America is the country where all your dreams can come true, so take advantage of being in California and live the life you’ve always wanted for yourself.