Are You Being Cheated Out Of Earned Wages? Our Firm Is Here To Help.

For many workers in California, it is difficult to make ends meet, even when their employers are abiding by the law. Unfortunately, many businesses are not obeying wage and hour laws, and their employees are suffering the financial consequences.

If you know or suspect that your employer is stealing from you or violating California laws regarding meal and rest breaks, contact our skilled legal team at Employee Justice Legal Group PC. Call us at 213-669-4771 or get in touch with us online. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to hold your employer accountable and help you claim back pay and any other available compensation.

Your Employer Could Be Violating Minimum Wage Laws

Under federal and state law, employers must pay at least the minimum wage. Under federal law, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. In California, the statewide minimum wage is either $11 or $12 per hour depending on the number of employees. There are cities that have instituted a higher minimum wage as well. For example, in Los Angeles, the minimum wage is $13.25 per hour.

California is also one of only a handful of states without a “tipped minimum wage.” Tips cannot be used to bring a service worker’s pay up to minimum wage. Their hourly pay must start no lower than the prevailing minimum wage in their area.

If you believe that your employer is paying you wages that are illegally low or is otherwise depriving you of pay that you are entitled to, contact our attorneys to discuss your concerns.

Overtime Pay Problems Are Common Sources Of Wage And Hour Claims

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) governs overtime laws. Under the act, an employee must receive overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 hours in a given work week or more than eight hours in a workday. The overtime pay rate is 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate.

The exception to overtime pay requirements is if an employee’s job duties qualify them as “exempt” from overtime provisions. However, too many employers misclassify their workers as exempt in an effort to avoid overtime obligations. In other cases, employers believe they can get around overtime laws by just making blanket policies like “no overtime pay,” even if their employees are required to work overtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

These laws and regulations can be confusing. Here are the answers to several frequently asked questions about wage and hour laws:

How much of my tips can my employer take?

In California, your employer is not allowed to take any percentage or amount of the tips you earn. You cannot be asked or forced to share your tips with your employer, owner, manager or supervisors.

Is asking me to work through lunch illegal?

Employers have an obligation to provide meal breaks to employees. That means your boss cannot ask you to work through your lunch break or otherwise take away any meal or rest breaks.

How many hours is too many hours to work?

There is no official cap on the number of hours an employee can legally work in a day in California. However, certain employees are entitled to overtime pay if their hours worked exceed that of a typical work week. This means over eight hours in a day, 40 hours in a single week or more than six days in a single week.

Don’t Let Your Employer Steal Your Legally Protected Breaks

Employees working a certain number of hours are entitled to meal and rest breaks, some of which are paid and some of which are not. Unfortunately, many employers force their employees to skip breaks or to take “breaks” in a manner that essentially keeps them on the clock.

You can learn more on our meal and rest breaks page.

You May Have Cause For A Class Action Claim

Wage and hour violations are not typically isolated to one or two workers. If your employer has been stealing from you, chances are good that many other employees are victims as well. Our attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation of pay practices and record-keeping to determine how widespread the problem is. If others are being cheated, you may have the option of pursuing a class action lawsuit.

Can You Afford A Lawyer? You Might Be Surprised.

At Employee Justice Legal Group PC, we offer free initial consultations and take employment law cases on a contingency-fee basis. We only get paid after we help you recover compensation.

To explore your legal options in a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable lawyers, call us in Los Angeles at 213-669-4771 or submit an online contact form.