Behind the Numbers

Behind the Numbers


How Restaurant Operators Sustainably Protect & Grow Their Businesses

September 10, 2025

California’s 2024 PAGA reform finally gives operators leverage if they do the work. Employment attorney Anthony Zaller explains how proactive audits, supervisor training, updated policies, and documented corrective actions can cap certain penalties at 15%. We dig into why PAGA filings still exceed 10,000 a year, the $200 per-paycheck pay-stub risk, when to add HR support (25 employees) and bring it in-house (50), and how top operators use 15-minute labor matrices with schedule guardrails to manage rising wages. Practical steps, real numbers, and a clear playbook to turn legal risk into operational discipline.


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