Los Angeles Wage and Hour Attorney

Fighting for Your Wage Rights in Southern California

One of the most frustrating situations that you can encounter in the workplace is when your employer fails to abide by California’s extensive wage and hour laws. There are many protections put in place to ensure that employees are paid rightfully for the hours that they work.

California state law has a guaranteed minimum wage and certain regulations that apply to overtime hours. Federal law also provides protections against an employer that violates wage and hour laws. Despite this, a number of employers try to bend the rules and shortchange workers who are entitled to their full compensation.

At the Law Offices of Scott R. Ames, our wage and hour lawyers have successfully guided many clients through these claims in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties. We understand that you may fear retaliation if you report your employer’s misconduct, but our law firm will stand by you throughout the entire legal process and hold your employer accountable.

State and Federal Laws Regarding Wage AND Hour Rights

California provides some of the broadest protections for workers in the country, expanding the rights provided by federal law in many situations. One of the clearest examples of this is the minimum wage.

California wage and hour laws also address matters such as:

• Accrual of paid time off or leaves of absence,
• Misclassifying employees to avoid payment of overtime
• Working off the clock
• Record keeping requirements
• Unpaid wages

As of January 1st, 2021, the minimum wage for California employees working at a company with 25 or fewer employees is $14 per hour. Workers at companies with 26 or more individuals are entitled to $12.00 per hour. In some cities, such as Los Angeles and Santa Monica, the minimum wage rules are even more generous.

These wages are scheduled to increase over the next few years to keep pace with hikes in the cost of living. When it comes to tips, California laws do not allow employers to count tips toward the hourly minimum wage.

Overtime

A common legal issue that arises in wage and hour disputes is unpaid overtime wages. Many California employees are entitled to overtime pay if they work more than eight hours in a day, or more than 40 hours during a week. If you work more than 12 hours in a single day, you are entitled to receive double your hourly wage.

There are some jobs that do not qualify for this overtime payment scheme, including:

• Certain executive, administrative, and professional employees
• Workers in the field of computer software
• Those directly employed in the government
• Outside salespersons
• Certain drivers with regulated hours
• Employees with earnings greater than one and a half times minimum wage, which over half of compensation in commissions
• Professional actors
• Certain employees in fields that are mainly "intellectual, managerial, or creative"

It is essential that you consult an experienced wage and hour attorney in the Los Angeles area if you are confused about whether you are being paid properly. We can help you determine if you are a non-exempt employee and work to protect your rights.

Breaks

Meal and rest breaks are another important aspect of California and federal wage and hour laws. If an employee works for five hours, they are entitled to a 30-minute meal break unless the workday will be completed in six hours, and the employee consents to a waiver of the meal period.

If an employee works for 10 hours during the day, they are authorized to take another 30-minute meal break. There are additional rules that apply to where the meal periods can take place and whether the employee can waive them.

Seek Guidance from a Wage and Hour Lawyer in Los Angeles

At the Law Offices of Scott R. Ames, we pride ourselves on helping California employees hold employers responsible for failures to abide by wage and hour laws. We firmly believe that you deserve every penny that you earn.