Are employers allowed to pay employees differently based on their education level?
In California, employers are generally allowed to pay employees differently based on their education level. This is allowed under wage and hour law because, in most cases, a higher education level indicates that the employee can be expected to bring a greater level of skill and knowledge to their job than employees with a lower education level. The state of California also has minimum wage laws which establish the lowest wages employers must pay their employees. Generally, employers are not allowed to pay employees below the minimum wage and must also pay overtime wages as required by law. Additionally, employers are not allowed to pay employees differently based on their gender, race, or any other protected class in California. Employers must also give employees certain benefits under the law, such as vacation time, sick leave, and health care, which may be the same for all employees regardless of education level. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to pay employees differently based on their education level is up to the employer. However, employers should be aware that they must comply with all wage and hour laws in California when making such decisions.
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