Los Angeles Wage & Hour Claims Lawyer

Payment of wages is a foundational component of the employer-employee relationship. When you take a job, you have a justifiable expectation that you will receive reimbursement according to your employment arrangement. Whether through a contract, statutes like the California Labor Code, or federal law, a company is required to uphold its end of the bargain. The failure to pay fair wages on a timely basis damages trust and can put you in a difficult financial situation.

If your employer breached its legal duties regarding wages and hours, a lawyer at Litigation, P.C., can assist with enforcing your rights. We will pursue your options to recover wages and other compensation, so please contact our firm to schedule a consultation. An overview of the relevant laws and concepts may also be helpful.

Wage and Hour Laws in California

State statutes on wages and hours apply to employees, as separate from independent contractors. There are multiple factors that determine your status, but California labor laws presume that you are an employee if you provide services to your employer. Plus, the requirements only apply to non-exempt employees, so executive, administrative, and professional workers are excluded.

One of the most common wage and hour disputes involves payment of minimum wage. An employer must pay minimum wages set either at the state, county or city level; for example, the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County have higher minimum wage rates that increased through July 2021. In addition, other wage and hour issues include:

• Overtime pay, as described below:
• Failure to provide rest or meal periods – or compensation in lieu of these breaks;
• Misclassifying employees as independent contractors; and,
• Misclassifying non-exempt employees as exempt.

Overtime and Exemptions

Employers must pay employees 1.5 times the normal hourly wage when a person works 8-12 hours per day, and twice the wages for any time in excess of 12 hours. You must also receive overtime pay when working up to eight hours on the seventh consecutive workday of the workweek. Again, this requirement does not apply to exempt employees in executive, administrative, professional, and other designated positions.

Employee Remedies for Violations of Wage and Hour Laws

You do have legal options if your employer does not comply with legal requirements, and an attorney at Litigation, P.C., can explain them in more detail. You may be able to recover:

• Unpaid wages based on the minimum wage rate and/or overtime amounts that apply to your situation;
• Interest on the amounts that were wrongfully withheld by your employer;
• Attorney’s fees; and,
• Court fees and litigation costs.

A Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights

Prompt payment of wages ensures your economic stability, both now and in the future. California law protects your interests as an employee, so you do have options to address misconduct and recover damages for the harm that non-payment has caused. For a confidential consultation with an experienced lawyer, contact Litigation, P.C., at 424-284-2401 or online to learn about your legal options. We routinely handle matters throughout SoCal.