DEFENDING EMPLOYEE RIGHTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

Under California Labor Code Section 203, employees who are terminated or voluntarily resign and do not receive their final wages on time may be entitled to “waiting time penalties.” These penalties are designed to compensate employees for the delay and encourage employers to pay final wages promptly and in full. When Are Final Wages Due? The timing of final wage payments depends on how your employment ended: If you are terminated or laid off, your employer must provide your final paycheck immediately at the time of separation. If you resign and give at least 72 hours of...

How to File a Wage Claim with the California Labor Commissioner If your employer has failed to pay you the wages you are owed, you may be entitled to file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner. This legal process helps employees recover unpaid wages, including minimum wage violations, unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, and unauthorized deductions. Step 1: Gather Documentation Before filing a claim, collect any documentation that supports your case. This may include: Pay stubs and time records Work schedules or calendars Written communications with...

Under California labor law, employers are strictly limited in when and how they can deduct wages from an employee’s paycheck. Unauthorized or improper deductions are considered a form of wage theft and are illegal. If you believe your wages have been wrongfully deducted, it’s important to understand your rights and the steps you can take to protect them. When Are Wage Deductions Legal in California? Employers may only deduct wages from an employee’s paycheck under specific and lawful circumstances. Legal deductions typically include: State and federal taxes Social Security and Medicare...

California labor laws require employers to pay employees accurately and on time. If your paycheck is incorrect or missing wages, you have legal options to recover what you’re owed. Whether it’s unpaid regular hours, overtime, bonuses, or final wages, the law protects your right to fair pay. Acting quickly and strategically is key to preserving your claim. Steps to Take If You’re Missing Wages Review Your Pay Stub: Carefully examine your pay stub for errors in hours worked, rate of pay, deductions, and withholdings. Compare it to your records or time sheets. Document the...

Being required to work off the clock—before clocking in, after clocking out, or during unpaid breaks—is a violation of California labor law. Employers must pay for all hours an employee is “suffered or permitted to work,” even if they didn’t formally authorize it. If you’re being asked to work without pay, it’s important to take steps to protect your rights and hold your employer accountable. Steps You Can Take Document Everything: Keep detailed records of your hours worked, even those not reflected on your official timecard. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or app to record...

Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to pay an employee the full wages they are legally owed. In California, wage theft is taken seriously, and state labor laws provide strong protections for workers. Employers who withhold pay, deny lawful breaks, or misclassify employees may be engaging in wage theft, whether knowingly or not. Common Examples of Wage Theft Wage theft can take many forms, including both obvious and more subtle violations of labor law. Some of the most common examples include: Failure to pay minimum wage Failure to pay overtime wages Withholding final...