Long Beach Wage and Hour Attorney

Long Beach wage and hour attorney/lawyer

Every employer in California must pay their employees appropriately under state and federal law. California enforces a much higher minimum wage than the federal minimum wage, and the state also upholds various other statutes regarding California employees, their work hours, and their pay. When employers violate these statutes and fail to pay their employees properly, affected employees have the right to seek legal recourse to recover their lost wages.

Legal Counsel for Long Beach, CA, Wage and Hour Disputes

If you believe you have grounds for a wage and hour claim in Long Beach, CA, it can be intimidating to consider filing a legal claim against your employer. However, working with an experienced Long Beach wage and hour attorney allows you to confidently approach this situation. The right attorney can carefully review your pay records and other documentation to determine whether an employer failed to pay you appropriately under California state law and hold them accountable if so.

The Law Offices of Jonathan D. Winters offers comprehensive legal representation for a wide range of employment disputes in California. We understand the stress and uncertainty that anyone can face after experiencing an issue with their pay, especially if their employer is completely unwilling to compromise to work out an acceptable solution. Legal action can help the affected employee secure the compensation they deserve and ensure accountability for wage and hour violations in Long Beach.

Common Examples of Wage and Hour Violations

Some employers take advantage of their employees, committing wage and hour violations while affected employees are unaware of what is being done to them. As a result, a wage and hour dispute can revolve around a single acute incident or a prolonged series of repeated violations over an extended period. Some of the most commonly reported wage and hour violations in Long Beach, CA, include:

• Minimum wage violations. Most employers in California must adhere to the state’s minimum wage requirements, not the much lower federal minimum wage. When an employer fails to meet the state minimum wage for an employee, they are liable for back pay and other damages to the employee.
• Overtime violations. Employees paid hourly are typically entitled to receive 1.5 times their usual pay rate after working eight hours in a day or over 40 hours in a workweek. California also enforces a double-time rule for work over 12 hours in one day or after a set number of days with no days off. If you are unsure whether your employer has paid your overtime correctly or if you think your time card was adjusted so your employer could avoid paying you overtime, it’s vital to consult a Long Beach wage and hour attorney.
• Failure to provide pay stubs. All employers must provide their employees with pay stubs that show the total number of hours worked in the pay period, identifying information for the pay period, the worker’s hourly rate, and all deductions, including income taxes, wage garnishments, and others. If your employer has failed to provide you with complete and accurate pay stubs, you could have grounds for legal action.
• Improper paycheck deductions. Most employers deduct income taxes automatically from their employees’ checks. Some employers may be required to arrange wage garnishments and automatic child support deductions from some employees’ checks. All deductions must be listed accurately on the employee’s pay stubs, and any unauthorized or miscalculated deductions could be grounds for a wage and hour dispute.
• Failure to remit final paychecks. Whenever an employee quits or is fired, California law requires the employer to issue the employee’s final paycheck within 72 hours of receipt of notice the employee is leaving. Some wage and hour disputes arise when employers refuse to provide final paychecks properly or when they take unauthorized deductions from a final paycheck, assuming the employee won’t bother fighting back.
• Paying employees “under the table.” All employment must be formally documented so that income taxes can be assessed. An employer paying a worker in cash without any formal legal agreement may seem advantageous. Workers assume they’re avoiding paycheck deductions and income taxes easily while employers aren’t legally obligated to provide work-related benefits to workers paid under the table. However, this type of arrangement is a violation of state and federal law, and both parties could face penalties.

Any wage and hour claim can be an incredibly stressful and disheartening experience for the affected worker. These cases often involve significant losses, and a victim may wonder if it is worth hiring legal counsel to pursue a few lost paychecks. Therefore, taking full advantage of your legal options for recovery from a wage and hour dispute is vital. Not only can your claim help you recover the income and benefits you’re rightly owed, but it can also hold your employer accountable and potentially prevent them from doing the same thing to another employee.

Find Your Legal Team Today

California enforces strict laws regarding employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities regarding wages. It can be difficult for an employee to discern whether they have grounds for legal action in response to their employer’s actions or whether it would be worth pursuing a claim. The sooner you speak with a Long Beach wage and hour attorney about your claim, the easier it will be for you to identify your best opportunities for defending yourself.

The Law Offices of Jonathan D. Winters has extensive professional experience with a complete range of employment-related legal disputes in Long Beach, CA. We know the challenges and uncertainties many face when confronted with wage and hour disputes with their employers. We also know the tactics many employers use to conceal deliberate wage and hour violations and how to accurately calculate an employee’s rightful pay.

The sooner you speak with a Long Beach wage and hour attorney about your situation, the more likely you will be to succeed with any legal actions you must take in response to your experience. Contact The Law Offices of Jonathan D. Winters today to learn more about the legal services we offer and how a Long Beach wage and hour lawyer can help you recover your missing pay.