Handbook gap checker for California employers

A California handbook has to track state law, the rules that switch on at 5, 15, 20 and 25 employees, and the local ordinances of every city where your people work. This checker builds the list that applies to you, asks whether your handbook covers each item, and returns the gaps with the law or ordinance behind every one. It is the free first pass of a handbook review. Nothing here is guessed: each requirement comes from a written rule, and the figures come from the same fact register that keeps this site current.

How the checker decides what applies

• Headcount. Several California rules start at five employees (harassment policy, CFRA and pregnancy leave, bereavement leave, fair chance hiring), pay scales in job postings start at 15, and school activity leave at 25. Count everyone on payroll, part-time included.
• Cities. Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Emeryville and San Jose each add their own rules on sick leave, scheduling, health care spending or hiring. The Bay Area city rules hub compares them.
• Industry. Restaurants add tip, split shift and service charge rules; home care adds caregiver overtime; construction adds heat illness and prevailing wage rules; nonprofits add volunteer rules and a higher San Francisco health care threshold.

What the short report shows, and what the full report adds

The free short report lists every gap in order of penalty risk, with its citation and a plain-English guide. The full report is part of the compliance check-up: the policy language each gap needs, a check of whether your records match what the handbook says, and a ranked plan to close each gap.

Where the rules come from

Statewide rules come from the California Labor Code, Government Code and Title 2 and Title 8 regulations; city rules come from each city’s ordinance and enforcement office; every figure (minimum wages, the exempt salary floor) is logged with its source and re-verified on December 1, June 15 and August 5 each year.

About this tool. The checker covers the most common handbook requirements for California and five Bay Area cities; it is not a complete legal review and not legal advice. Your answers stay in your browser unless you choose to email the report. See the terms.