California Wage and Hour Lawyer
We represent employees across California who have been treated unfairly at work. From unpaid wages to overtime violations, we fight to hold employers accountable and secure the compensation you’ve rightfully earned.
California Labor Law guarantees employees fair pay for every hour worked, overtime wages, proper meal and rest breaks, and reimbursement for work-related expenses. Yet many employers still break these laws, denying workers the compensation they’ve rightfully earned.
When businesses put profit above people, Pérez Law Group stands ready to fight back. Our class action attorneys have the experience, resources, and determination to hold employers accountable and pursue the best possible outcome for employees.
Don’t let your rights be ignored. Contact the award-winning wage and hour violation lawyers at Pérez Law Group today at (877) 622-5888 or fill out our online form for your FREE case consultation.
Unpaid Wages? Facing Wage and Hour Violations?
Pérez Law will review your case, answer your questions, and explain your legal options in plain language. Our trusted attorneys are here to guide you – with no fees and no obligation.
Misclassification of Employees
Under both federal and state wage and hour laws, California law gives non-exempt employees important protections; like overtime pay, rest breaks, and safeguards against being overworked or underpaid. But when employers wrongly classify a non-exempt worker as “exempt” or call them an “independent contractor,” it strips away these rights and amounts to wage theft.
By default, California assumes every worker is non-exempt. It’s the employer’s responsibility to prove otherwise. To qualify as exempt, an employee must meet strict salary and duty requirements. For example, they must earn at least twice the minimum wage and their primary responsibilities must clearly fall into one of a few narrow categories, such as:
- Executives – Managers, supervisors, C-level staff
- Professionals – Doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, systems analysts
- Administrative Employees – Non-manual office workers handling key operations
- Outside Salespersons
Independent contractors also fall outside many wage and hour protections, but the law sets strict limits. If an employer controls not only the work itself but also how it is performed, that worker is likely an employee, not an independent contractor.
When misclassification occurs, employees lose wages, benefits, and protections they are legally entitled to. A wage and hour lawyer can help you challenge misclassification, hold your employer accountable, and recover what you’re owed.
What Overtime Violations Are Common?
California law is clear: if you work more than 8 hours in a day, 40 hours in a week, or on the seventh straight day, you are entitled to overtime pay. Non-exempt employees must receive 1.5 times their regular rate for these hours, and double their regular pay for work over 12 hours in a day or more than 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day.
Unfortunately, many employers still try to cut corners, leaving hardworking employees underpaid.
Some of the most common overtime violations include:
- Off-the-Clock Work – Requiring employees to work during meal breaks, before clocking in, or after clocking out without pay.
- Time Shaving – Altering or deleting hours from time records to reduce wages.
- Improper Time Rounding – Adjusting clock-in and clock-out times in ways that shortchange employees.
- Misclassification – Labeling non-exempt workers as exempt or “independent contractors” to avoid paying overtime and benefits.
If you’ve experienced any of these, it’s more than unfair – it’s a violation of your rights under California law.
Other Common Wage and Hour Violations
Wage theft isn’t always obvious. Beyond overtime and meal/rest break violations, many employers violate California wage and hour laws in other ways, including:
- Miscalculating the wage calculation
- Failing to pay minimum wage
- Using tips to offset wages
- Not reimbursing employees for job expenses like uniforms, mileage, or work-related phone use
- Providing inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading wage statements
- Delaying or withholding regular wage payments
- Failing to pay final wages after termination
- Miscalculating vacation pay or time off
- Not compensating for required travel time or on-call hours
- Withholding commissions or bonuses
- Excluding commissions or non-discretionary bonuses when calculating overtime pay
If you’ve noticed discrepancies in your paycheck or believe your rights have been violated, don’t ignore it. Perez Law Group is here to fight for you. Our nationally recognized class action attorneys have the resources, expertise, and proven track record to hold employers accountable and recover the wages you’ve earned.
How Can Pérez Law Group Help Me?
If you’ve already tried working with your employer and nothing has changed, it may be time to take legal action. California law gives you the right to fight back—but the clock is ticking. In most cases, you only have three years to file a wage claim, so acting quickly is critical.
Before filing, gather any evidence that can support your case, such as
Time cards
Pay stubs/earnings cards
Wage rate cards
Work schedules
Ordering/shipping/billing records
Wage addition/deduction records
These details help strengthen your claim and ensure your story is backed by proof.
Many wage and hour cases move forward as class actions, where you and other employees join together to recover unpaid wages, interest, penalties, and attorney fees. Employers often count on fear and confusion to silence workers, but a class action levels the playing field and holds them accountable.
If you’ve been misclassified, denied overtime, or otherwise cheated out of your hard-earned wages, you don’t have to face it alone. Our award-winning attorneys at Pérez Law have delivered exceptional results for clients since 1998, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Time is limited. Act now. Contact Pérez Law today at (877) 622-5888 or fill out our online form for a FREE case consultation.
Book a Free Case Evaluation
Pérez Law Group stands by you if you’ve experienced wage and hour violations. We listen to your concerns, investigate your case, explain your rights, and take the necessary legal action to protect your interests.