How do I hire a new employee?

When hiring a new employee, it’s important to follow the proper steps to minimize legal risk. The steps below provide guidance on how you can: properly recruit, interview and hire a competent and trustworthy employee; reduce your liability; protect your at-will employment relationships; and reduce your odds of negligent hiring claims.

Effective October 1, 2025, the California Civil Rights Council revised the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act regulations to address the use of automated decision systems (ADS), including artificial intelligence (AI), in employment practices such as recruiting and hiring. The regulations clarify that it's unlawful for an employer or other covered entity