One of the most common questions we hear from California business owners is surprisingly simple: “My employee isn’t performing. Can I just fire them?” In many situations, a California employer can terminate an at-will employee for legitimate poor performance. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should walk into the employee’s office tomorrow morning and say, “You’re fired.” Before you fire an employee for poor performance in California, there are several things worth checki

Artificial intelligence is no longer something California employers need to prepare for in the distant future. It is already being used to write emails, summarize documents, screen job applicants, answer employee questions, analyze information, create marketing content, improve customer service, assist with recruiting and perform administrative work. For small businesses, the accessibility of generative AI has significantly changed the technology landscape. Companies no longe

Running a small business in California means managing more than customers, cash flow and operations. Business owners also have to manage people — and some of the most important management responsibilities involve conversations that are uncomfortable to have. An employee may not be meeting expectations. Someone may have repeated attendance problems. Two employees may be in conflict. A worker may complain about harassment or pay. An employee who has been struggling with perform