Know if you're a PAGA target before the notice lands.

Assess your PAGA risk by evaluating compliance across key areas: meal/rest break procedures, wage statement accuracy, overtime calculations (including Regular Rate of Compensation), employee classifications, final pay timing, timekeeping systems, and record retention. A self-assessment can identify obvious gaps, but a forensic payroll audit using actual data provides the most accurate risk picture.

Employers most targeted for PAGA claims tend to have: large non-exempt workforces (more employees = higher aggregate penalties), industries with shift work (manufacturing, healthcare, food service), manual or paper-based timekeeping, high turnover (more final pay events), and multiple California locations. Prior complaints or demand letters also indicate elevated risk.

Yes. Conducting regular risk assessments and acting on findings constitutes 'reasonable steps' under AB 2288, qualifying you for up to 85% penalty reduction. The key is documenting both the assessment and the corrective actions taken. Courts look at whether the employer was proactively trying to comply, not whether compliance was perfect.

The HR Risk Score is EaseWorks' comprehensive employment compliance assessment that evaluates your organization across multiple risk categories including PAGA exposure, safety compliance, HR infrastructure, and regulatory readiness. It provides a numeric score with specific recommendations and can serve as documentation of 'reasonable steps' for PAGA penalty reduction purposes.