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Unpaid Wages · California Employment Law

Your Employer Owes You.
We Make Them Pay.

California has the strongest wage protection laws in the country — and employers break them every day. If you've been cheated out of wages, overtime, or breaks, you're entitled to recover every dollar plus penalties.

Not paid for all hours worked or off-the-clock work
Denied overtime pay (over 8 hrs/day or 40 hrs/week)
Missed or shortened meal breaks and rest periods
Misclassified as independent contractor or exempt
Final paycheck not received on time after termination
No Fee Unless We Win
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Am I Owed Money?
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$1M+ Recovered in Wage Cases
100% Contingency — Zero Upfront Cost
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Southern California
Know Your Rights

California Wage Laws Your
Employer May Be Breaking

Most workers don't realize how many wage violations are happening right under their nose. Here are the most common — and they're all illegal.

Unpaid Overtime

In California, you're owed 1.5x pay after 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week, and 2x pay after 12 hours/day. Many employers "forget" to pay this — or misclassify workers to avoid it.

Missed Meal & Rest Breaks

You're entitled to a 30-minute meal break for every 5 hours worked and a 10-minute rest break every 4 hours. If your employer makes you work through breaks, they owe you an extra hour of pay for each violation.

Misclassification

Calling you an "independent contractor" or "exempt employee" when you're not is one of the most common wage theft tactics. If your employer controls when and how you work, you're likely an employee — and owed all protections.

Off-the-Clock Work

Being required to set up before your shift, clean after hours, answer emails at home, or do unpaid training — all of it is compensable time under California law. If you're working, you must be paid.

Missing Pay Stubs

California employers must provide accurate, itemized pay stubs every pay period. If your pay stubs are missing, inaccurate, or not provided at all, that's a separate violation with its own penalties — $50 for the first violation and $100 for each one after.

Final Paycheck Violations

If you're fired, California law requires your employer to pay all wages owed immediately. If you quit with 72 hours notice, they must pay on your last day. Every day they're late, you're owed an additional day's wages — up to 30 days.

Proven Results

We Recover What You're Owed —
And Then Some.

$1,000,000
Misclassification
& Unpaid Wages
$650,000
Unpaid Wages
& Retaliation
$540,000
Wrongful Termination
& Unpaid Wages
$450,000
Misclassification
& Unpaid Wages

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique.

Simple Process

Three Steps to Getting
What You're Owed

1

Free Wage Review

Tell us about your pay situation — we'll review your pay stubs, hours, and employment classification to identify every violation and calculate what you're owed.

2

We Build Your Claim

We gather pay records, time logs, and employment documents. We handle the Labor Commissioner filing or civil lawsuit — you don't lift a finger.

3

You Get Every Dollar

California law entitles you to unpaid wages plus penalties, interest, and attorney fees. We fight for the maximum — and you pay nothing unless we win.

Why Justice For Workers

We Know California Wage Law
Inside and Out.

Wage cases are technical — penalties stack, statutes overlap, and employers use complexity to avoid paying. We specialize in cutting through that.

100% Contingency Fee

You pay absolutely nothing upfront. We front all costs and only collect if we recover money for you.

Penalties Add Up Fast

Under California law, you may be owed far more than just back wages — waiting time penalties, meal break premiums, and PAGA penalties can multiply your recovery significantly.

Individual or Class Action

Whether it's just you or your entire team being shortchanged, we handle both individual claims and class/PAGA actions — whichever path maximizes your recovery.

We Speak Your Language

Our team serves clients in English, Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese — no interpreter fees, no communication barriers.

Common Questions

Answers Before You Call

How far back can I claim unpaid wages in California?

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Generally, you can recover unpaid wages going back 3 years under California law, or 4 years if you file under the Unfair Competition Law (Business & Professions Code §17200). For PAGA claims, the lookback period is typically 1 year. The sooner you act, the more you can recover.

I'm undocumented. Can I still file a wage claim?

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Yes. California law protects all workers regardless of immigration status. Your employer cannot use your immigration status to avoid paying you, and they cannot retaliate against you for filing a wage claim. It is illegal for them to threaten to report you to immigration authorities.

My employer says I'm exempt from overtime. Are they right?

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Maybe not. To be truly exempt in California, you must earn at least twice the state minimum wage on a salary basis AND primarily perform executive, administrative, or professional duties. Many employers misclassify workers as exempt to avoid paying overtime. If you spend more than half your time doing non-managerial work, you may be misclassified.

Can I be fired for filing a wage claim?

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No. Retaliating against you for filing a wage claim, complaining about unpaid wages, or reporting labor law violations is illegal under California Labor Code §98.6 and §1102.5. If your employer fires, demotes, or reduces your hours in response to a wage complaint, you may have a separate retaliation claim worth additional damages.

How much is my unpaid wage claim worth?

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More than you think. Beyond the back wages owed, California law provides for waiting time penalties (up to 30 days of wages), meal/rest break premiums (1 hour of pay per violation per day), pay stub penalties ($50–$100 per violation), interest, and attorney fees. In PAGA actions, penalties of $100–$200 per pay period per employee can add up to very large sums.

Every Day You Wait, Your Employer Keeps Your Money.

California has strict deadlines for wage claims. The sooner you act, the more you can recover.

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