California, the bellwether: progressive employment laws and court decisions from the Golden State often influence state laws and company policies in the rest of the nation.(Employment Law)

California gave the nation the Frisbee disc, McDonald's, the microchip, Silicon Valley and lots of employee-friendly laws. Employee rights that start in California spread to other states as quickly as plaintiffs' attorneys draft lawsuits and employee advocates get lawmakers' ears.

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Some novel moves, like paid family leave and mandatory sexual harassment training, come from the California legislature. Others, like standards on wrongful discharge and implied contracts, come from the courts.

While California doesn't set the pace in every law, most of the ...