Summary of June 2025’s Labor Law Cases in San Francisco, CA
Brought to you by our San Francisco, California team at HKM Employment Attorneys — a legal roundup for HR professionals, employers, and employees. California’s June 2025 developments blend judiciary rulings—affecting DEI programs and arbitration—with wage escalations and sweeping regulatory reforms. Employers should act now: update wage scales, audit exempt salaries, establish clear fee-payment procedures for arbitration systems, and adjust HR policies under new healthcare, consumer, and education laws.
For guidance tailored to your workplace, contact HKM Employment Attorneys at https://hkm.com.
San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump — Court Ruling
Date: June 9, 2025
Summary:
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted a preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of parts of three federal executive orders focused on DEI and gender ideology, but only in regard to plaintiffs including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and other LGBTQIA+ nonprofits.
Implications:
Employers and nonprofits in California engaged in DEI initiatives should note the uncertainty around federal mandates; enforcement is paused only for plaintiffs now, but the ruling may encourage additional legal challenges.
In re Arbitration Fee Waiver — Appellate Court Decision
Date: June 24, 2025
Summary:
A California appellate court ruled that employers may waive their right to compel arbitration if they fail to timely pay arbitration fees, even unintentionally .
Implications:
Employers in California must promptly pay arbitration-associated fees to preserve arbitration rights. A case-by-case protocol is recommended to avoid inadvertent waiver.
Local & Industry‑Specific Minimum Wage Increases — Legislation/Regulation
Date: Effective July 1, 2025
Summary:
California’s statewide minimum wage rose to $16.50/hr on January 1, 2025; exempt-salary threshold now $68,640/yr. Healthcare employers statewide pay $23/hr through June 30, increasing to $24/hr from July 1.
Many cities/counties (e.g., Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica) are adopting higher general and industry‑specific wage rates, effective July 1 .
Implications:
Employers must audit payroll and exempt classifications, especially in healthcare, hospitality, fast food, and local jurisdictions. Exempt employees must meet the new salary criterion. Collective bargaining agreements should be reviewed to ensure compliance with a floor of 1.3 × minimum wage.
New Statewide Consumer, Health & Wage Laws — Legislation
Date: Effective July 1, 2025
Summary:
Major laws take effect across multiple domains.
- Abortion coverage mandate in health plans (including IVF), with religious exemptions (SB 729).
- Student ID cards must include 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline info (SB 1063).
- Court notice and technology upgrades for mental-health and remote proceedings (AB 170, SB 42).
- Consumer transparency rules on subscriptions and pet‑insurance (AB 2863, SB 1217).
Implications:
While not all labor-specific, these changes impact HR policies and employee communication. Employers should revisit benefit summaries, ID-card issuance protocols, and employee-facing policies to ensure compliance.
Conclusion: Looking back on San Francisco, CA Labor Law Updates in June 2025
With California’s latest court rulings strengthening protections around wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, discrimination, contract enforcement, and whistleblower claims, having local legal counsel is indispensable. At HKM Employment Attorneys in San Francisco, our team has recovered over $250 million for employees since 2003 and represents workers across a full range of employment law—including harassment, ethics investigations, FMLA/ADA accommodations, non-compete enforcement, and data breach issues—under a fearless, no‑fee‑unless‑we‑win model. If recent court decisions in San Francisco have hit close to home, reach out to our San Francisco office to explore how we can help enforce your workplace rights and pursue justice.
