California Employment Lawyers Fighting Workplace Abuse

We help employees recover unpaid wages, lost jobs and financial damages.

• Free confidential claim review.
• No fees unless we win.

If your employer has violated wage laws, denied leave, retaliated against employees or treated you unfairly for race, gender, age or another characteristic, you may have a legal claim. Our attorneys review employment claims confidentially and at no cost and can help you determine your legal options.

Have Your Workplace Rights Been Violated?

Many employees endure unfair treatment out of fear that they may lose their jobs, experience workplace retaliation or face much worse consequences.

Your workplace rights may have been violated if you have experienced the following:

• You were paid below minimum wage or not paid for all hours worked.
• You are expected to work during meal and rest breaks.
• You're denied overtime pay or expected to work "off the clock."
• You work as an employee, but are misclassified as "1099."
• You're mislabeled as "exempt" based on job title only.
• You are treated differently because of race, gender, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, or another protected characteristic.
• You were denied earned commission or non-discretionary bonuses.
• You were denied reasonable accommodations for disability or religion.
• You were denied medical leave, or experienced retaliation for taking it.

Depending on your case, you may have more than one employment claim. If you are not sure which law your employer or supervisor has violated, consult with our attorneys to better understand your legal options.

Why Choose California Employee Rights

Our experienced litigation attorneys have a decades-long record of fighting corporations who break or abuse the law and representing everyday Californians in complex statutory claims.

Our litigation attorneys apply an aggressive, statute-driven approach to protecting California workers. We represent workers at every stage of the dispute process, and if your employer will not offer you what you are owed, we are willing to bring your case to the courtroom.

You do not pay a penny out of pocket for our legal services. We handle most employment cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we are only paid if we recover compensation for you.

How California Protects Employees

California has some of the strongest labor protections in the nation. We have one of the country's highest minimum wages. California law provides unique protections, including strict and timely wage rules, meal and rest period requirements, employee-friendly overtime wage regulations and laws against employee misclassification.

If your workplace rights have been violated, you may be eligible for back pay, interest, unpaid overtime, job reinstatement, penalties and other forms of compensation.

Employment disputes often involve both California and federal statutes, including:

• California Labor Code
• Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
• California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
• Assembly Bill 5 (Independent Contractor Law)
• California Fair Pay Act
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Employment Law Cases We Handle

Here are just a few types of workplace violations we have seen. If you are experiencing a different workplace issue, call us directly for a consultation into your potential case.

Wage & Hour Issues

Forced to work through meal and rest breaks? California's wage and hour laws are much stronger than federal law. CA labor codes address minimum wages, meal and rest breaks, sick leave and final paychecks. State law carries strong penalties for violations.

If your wage and hour rights have been violated, you may be entitled to back pay, statutory damages and more.

Unpaid Overtime

Have you been expected to work "off the clock" or been denied overtime pay? California has strict overtime laws for non-exempt employees, which covers most of the state's workforce.

In most cases, overtime pay must be at least 1.5x your regular pay rate. You may be able to recover unpaid overtime wages, liquidated damages, interest and penalties from your employer.

Discrimination

Unfairly treated due to race, age, gender, or religion? California law prohibits workplace discrimination in hiring, pay, promotions, discipline, and termination. Victims of workplace discrimination can recover compensation for expenses incurred and damages for emotional harm and distress.

Wrongful Termination

"At-will" employment is not a free pass for California employers to break the law. If you have been fired for discriminatory reasons, reporting harassment or safety violations, or for exercising your rights, you may have a legal claim for wrongful termination. Wrongfully dismissed employees may recover lost wages and benefits, lost future earnings, and compensation for emotional distress.

Employee Misclassification

Have you been mislabeled as an exempt or 1099 employee? Misclassified workers may be denied important protections granted to non-exempt employees, such as overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, expense reimbursement, or unemployment insurance. If you have been misclassified, your employer may owe you unpaid wages, overtime pay, or compensation related to meal and rest breaks, payroll taxes, worker's compensation and unemployment insurance contributions.

FMLA Violations

Were you denied medical leave or punished for taking time off? Eligible employees are entitled to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other laws for serious health conditions, pregnancy, or to care for certain family members. If your employer has interfered with your leave, retaliated against you or refused to reinstate you, your rights may have been violated. Recovery may include job reinstatement, lost wages and benefits and compensation for emotional distress.

What You May Be Entitled to Recover

Depending on the workplace violation you've experienced, you may be entitled to one or more of the following forms of compensation:

• Back pay for unpaid wages, underpayment, missed meal and rest break premiums, unpaid overtime or waiting time penalties
• Future lost earnings if you lost income due to wrongful termination or retaliation
• Lost job benefits, including health insurance, retirement contributions, bonuses, commissions, or paid leave
• Reinstatement to your former position in certain wrongful termination or retaliation cases
• Reimbursement of business expenses or other out-of-pocket losses, such as unreimbursed work expenses or costs incurred due to job loss
• Non-economic damages, including compensation for emotional distress or harm to professional reputation

Your employer may also be compelled to pay your attorneys' fees and costs.

If your employer engaged in particularly reckless, fraudulent or malicious conduct, a court may award you "punitive damages" in order to punish the employer and discourage future misconduct.

Even violations that seem minor can result in significant financial recovery under California law.

Speak With a California Employment Lawyer Today

Employment claims are subject to strict deadlines. Waiting too long may affect your ability to recover financial compensation.

We offer free and confidential consultations to California employees who believe their workplace rights have been violated. During your consultation, we will:

• Listen to your situation
• Identify potential violations of California or federal law
• Explain your legal options
• Discuss whether your case may proceed on a contingency basis

If you believe your employer has violated the law, do not ignore the warning signs. Contact our employment attorneys to discuss your situation and determine what evidence you need to collect for your claim. Sign up for a free case review today.