What employment rules does Emeryville add for employers?

Emeryville is small, but its retail corridor and its employment ordinances are not. It has held one of the highest local minimum wages in the country for a decade, and it adopted Fair Workweek scheduling rules in 2017.

What is Emeryville’s minimum wage?

$20.34 an hour from July 1, 2026, up 44 cents, the highest city rate in California (CalChamber). Unlike some cities, Emeryville applies one rate to businesses of every size. It adjusts every July 1.

How does Emeryville paid sick leave work?

• Full-time, part-time and temporary employees who work in Emeryville accrue one hour per 30 worked.
• Employers with 55 or fewer employees may cap accrual at 48 hours; employers with 56 or more may cap it at 72 hours.
• State law’s annual minimum still applies; follow the more generous rule on each point.

Who does the Fair Workweek Ordinance cover?

• Retail employers with 56 or more employees worldwide.
• Fast food employers with 56 or more employees worldwide and at least 20 employees in Emeryville.

The ordinance took effect July 1, 2017, with full enforcement from January 2018 (City of Emeryville).

What does it require?

• Schedules posted 14 days in advance, and a good-faith estimate of hours for new hires.
• One hour of predictability pay for changes made with less than 14 days’ notice but at least 24 hours.
• For cancellations or cuts with less than 24 hours’ notice, four hours of pay or the hours in the shift, whichever is less.
• An 11-hour rest window between shifts, with premium pay for hours worked inside it.
• Offering additional hours to qualified existing part-time employees before hiring.
• Keeping schedule and pay records for at least three years.

Where this fits

Berkeley’s Fair Workweek Ordinance works the same way but covers more industries. The Bay Area hub puts Emeryville’s rates next to its neighbors.

Fast food is the heart of Emeryville's Fair Workweek coverage; the restaurant HR guide covers tip pools, breaks and split shifts for the same employers.

Need an HR consultant in Emeryville? The practice is next door in Oakland, and the compliance check-up covers Fair Workweek scheduling and the city wage alongside state law.

McKinley holds a J.D. but is not a licensed attorney. Articles here are general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, talk with an employment attorney.

Data current as of September 2026. Sources are linked where each figure appears.