Los Angeles Wage & Hour Violations Lawyers
Employees deserve to be fairly and fully paid for their work. California and federal laws provide employees with various protections when it comes to pay and working hours.
Unfortunately, sometimes out of ignorance but usually out of greed, many employers violate these laws. All too often companies intentionally try to take advantage of their employees and cut corners to save money.
At Broslavsky & Weinman, LLP, our Los Angeles employment attorneys understand how wage and hour violations can negatively impact employees, and how unfair it is for a company to try to illegally increase its profits at the expense of the workers. Our Los Angeles law office represents employees who have been underpaid by their employers in violation of the law. We help employees stand up for their rights, obtain the compensation they are entitled to, and hold employers accountable for their illegal practices.
Common Examples of Wage & Hour Violations
Although wage and hour violations can take many forms, some more common examples include an employer:
- Failing to pay workers minimum wage or the applicable prevailing wage
- Failing to pay overtime or double time when earned
- Failing to pay for all the time on the job, such as on-call time or preparation time
- Misclassifying an employee as exempt
- Misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor
- Not paying workers the commissions they have earned and/or bonuses they have been promised
- Not repaying employees for certain work-related expenses
- Requiring employees to work through their rest or meal breaks (and not paying them for working through these breaks)
- Forcing employees to work “off of the clock”
California law also prohibits retaliation against employees who inquire about unpaid wages or file a complaint about an employer’s violation of the wage and hour laws.
Los Angeles Wage & Hour Class Actions
Class actions are designed to represent an entire class of individuals who suffered the same type of injury from a common defendant. Class action lawsuits are common in wage & hour litigation. If an employer commits a particular pay violation against one employee, the employer is likely committing the same violation against all or at least many of its other employees. For example, an employer may, as a matter of general practice, fail to pay overtime, fail to pay for the preparation time before official shifts, improperly round off time, or misclassify its employees as independent contractors. In circumstances such as these, lawsuits enforcing the collective legal rights of all workers wronged by the same employer are often more successful than individual suits and are an effective way to punish the employer for its wrongdoing.
At Broslavsky & Weinman, LLP, we also offer the following services:
- Wrongful Termination
- Sexual Harassment
- Family and Medical Leave
- Employment Discrimination
- Breach of Contract & Fraud
- Whistleblower
- Age Discrimination
- Disability Discrimination
- Race Discrimination
- Gender & Pregnancy Discrimination
Employers Must Pay Nonexempt Employees for All “Hours Worked”
Compensable “hours worked” in California include not just the time an employee spends performing his or her regular tasks during his or her regular shift. Additionally, an employer may be required to pay its employees for time spent on any of the following activities:
- Waiting and On-Call Time. An employee required to remain on the employer’s premises is generally considered to be working and must be paid for all hours – even if the employee is just simply on-call or waiting for something to happen. In certain circumstances, employees may also be entitled to be paid for waiting time even when they are off-site.
- Training Time. California law generally requires that nonexempt employees be paid for their training time. For the most part, the only trainings, meetings, or similar activities that are not compensable are voluntary events that take place outside the regular working hours and that do not directly relate to the employee’s job.
- Preparation Time. If an employee is required to put on protective gear or set up equipment before starting his or her shift, the time spent on these tasks may be compensable even though they are done off-the-clock.
- Travel time. While commuting to and from regular work location is typically not compensable, an employer may be obligated to pay for traveling time to other locations, for example, an employee running errands on behalf of the employer or traveling to another work-site per the employer’s instructions.
Overtime Pay Requirements
Nonexempt employees are entitled to 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for: (1) any work in excess of 40 hours in any one workweek or (2) any work in excess of 8 hours in one workday. Thus, even when an employee works less than 40 hours per week in total, he or she is still entitled to overtime pay for days on which he or she worked more than 8 hours. Additionally, all hours worked on the 7th consecutive day of work must be paid at the overtime rate.
Any work in excess of 12 hours in one workday must be compensated at a rate of no less than 2 times the employee’s regular rate of pay.
Pay Requirements for Employees Who Earn Commissions
Employers are typically prohibited from paying their employees who work on commission less than the minimum wage, regardless of the amount of revenue these employees generate. In general, the only commissioned employees who may be exempt from minimum wage requirements are some outside salespeople who primarily work “out in the field” away from the office.
Employees who earn commissions can also be entitled to overtime unless more than half of their income comes from commissions and their income in each pay period is more than 1.5 times the minimum wage. For employees eligible for overtime, commissions must also be included in the calculation of the overtime premium rate.
Pay Requirements for Employees Who Are Paid by Piece Rate
Regardless of their output, all employees who are paid by “piece rate” must still earn at least a minimum wage for each pay period. Piece-rate employees also must be separately paid no less than minimum wage for the time they are performing work that does not earn piece-rate wages, such as cleaning, waiting for orders, obtaining parts, etc.
Illegal Rounding of Hours
Rounding is often used in industries where time clocks are used and the employer rounds starting and stopping time to the nearest 5 minutes, one-tenth, or quarter of an hour. If an employer consistently rounds the time down rather than up, and the net result over time is an overall decrease in hours and loss of pay, the employer’s rounding policy may be illegal.
Requirements Regarding Tips
Tips and gratuities cannot be counted by employers towards the minimum wage payment owed. Employers are also not allowed to share tips or tip pools with their employees.
Contact Los Angeles Wage and Hour Attorneys for Free Case Consultation
If your employer has committed wage and hour violations, contact the Los Angeles wage & hour attorneys at Broslavsky & Weinman, LLP for help in obtaining compensation and justice. To schedule a free consultation and find out more about your rights and potential claims, call us at (310) 575-2550 or email us for a quick response.
With office locations in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, our wage & hour lawyers provide legal services and representation to clients throughout California.
Related Links:
- 2016 Sees Increase in the California Minimum Wage
- Min. Wage Hikes Need to Be Backed by Enforcement Efforts, Some Say
- Los Angeles City Approves $15/hr Minimum Wage
- New California Law Allows Cities and Counties to Enforce State Wage Laws
- $15 per hour Minimum Wage?
Frequently Asked Questions for our Los Angeles Wage & Hour Violations Lawyer
What are wage and hour violations in Los Angeles?
Wage and hour violations occur when an employer fails to pay its employees the minimum wage, overtime pay, or other compensation required by law. Examples of common wage and hour violations in Los Angeles include not paying overtime to non-exempt employees who work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week, not providing rest breaks or meal periods, and making improper deductions from employees’ paychecks.
Who is eligible to file a wage and hour claim in Los Angeles?
All employees in Los Angeles are eligible to file a wage and hour claim, regardless of immigration status. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees, as well as independent contractors.
What is the statute of limitations for wage and hour claims in Los Angeles?
The statute of limitations for wage and hour claims in Los Angeles is generally three years from the date of the violation. However, if an employer has engaged in a pattern or practice of wage theft, the statute of limitations may be extended to four years.
What remedies are available to employees in wage and hour claims in Los Angeles?
Employees in Los Angeles who file a successful wage and hour claim may be entitled to recover back pay, overtime pay, minimum wage, damages, and other compensation. In some cases, employees may also be entitled to recover attorneys’ fees and costs.
What should I do if I believe I have been a victim of wage and hour violations in Los Angeles?
If you believe you have been a victim of wage and hour violations in Los Angeles, you should consult with an experienced wage and hour attorney. Your attorney will review your case and advise you on your legal options. In some cases, your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement with your employer or file a lawsuit on your behalf.
How much does it cost to hire a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer?
The cost of hiring a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer varies depending on the complexity of the case and the attorney’s experience. Some wage and hour lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means they only charge a fee if they win your case. Other wage and hour lawyers may charge an hourly rate or a flat fee
What should I bring to my initial consultation with a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer?
To prepare for your initial consultation with a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer, you should gather all relevant documentation, including pay stubs, time sheets, and any other evidence of the wage and hour violations. You should also be prepared to discuss the details of your case, including the dates and times of the violations, the type of work you performed, and your compensation.