Reform the Private Attorney Generals Act

Did you know that California is the only state in the country with a Private Attorney Generals Act (PAGA)?

California employers are being financially exploited and crippled by frivolous lawsuits brought under PAGA, says Tom Sheehy, Principal and Founder of Sheehy Strategy Group. The act allows an aggrieved employee to file a claim with the state of California and then sue their employer after 65 days if their claim has not been settled.  Unfortunately, this can be spurred on by attorneys who are only interested in big settlements and end up getting most of the funds.

PAGA fails to protect employee rights. Any reasonable person would agree that employees should be able to pursue legitimate employment claims before the labor commissioner, who has the power to adjudicate labor claims. But California is the only state that allows employees to bypass the labor commissioner and go straight to suing businesses in the courts 65 days after having filed a claim with the state.

According to Sheehy, the act needs to be temporarily suspended and reformed. He says PAGA serves as another perfect example of how California consistently shoots itself in the foot. In the name of protecting employees, California drives businesses out of the state.

You cannot protect an employee who does not have a job.

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