Itemized Wage Statements: Accurate Information Avoids Confusion

by Michelle Galbraith, J.D.; HR Adviser, CalChamber

Employers can breathe a sigh of relief — as long as you’re including the specific items per Labor Code section 226 on an employee’s itemized wage statement, you’re in good shape.

A California employee who tested the level of specificity required of employers in a recent lawsuit, arguing that an employer’s name and mailing address must exactly match the information registered with the Secretary of State, learned this the hard way. In a victory for his employer, the trial and appellate courts disagreed and dismissed his case (Savea v. YRC Inc., 34 Cal.App.5th 173 (Cal. Ct. App. 2019)).