Irvine Wage & Hour Attorneys

Make Sure Your Employer Pays What You Are Owed

California has several laws in place to ensure that workers are fairly paid for the work they put in. Some employers will count on their staff’s ignorance of the law to pay them less than they are owed. Are you familiar with the minimum wage for your place of work? Do you receive double pay when working more than 12 hours in a day? Have you ever been asked to work off the clock? It is important that you understand wage and hour laws so that your employer can’t take advantage of you.

If you believe your employer has violated wage and hour laws, you can file a claim against them. Through legal action, you can receive compensation for the income you were denied with interest, and ensure that your employer pays you fairly from now on.

Call Aegis Law Firm today at (800) 543-4829 to schedule a free consultation with our wage and hour lawyers in Irvine. We serve Orange County and the Los Angeles area.

California Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in California changes depending on the number of people employed at your company. As of 2019, the minimum wage is as follows:

• $11 per hour for employers with 25 employees or less
• $12 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees

California is currently planning on increasing minimum wage every year until 2023, at which point all employers must pay $15 per hour regardless of the number of employees. So in 2020, the minimum wage will increase to $12 per hour for small employers and $13 per hour for larger employers.

Meal Breaks

In California, employees who work more than 5 hours are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break, except in cases where the workday is finished in six hours or less. All employees receive 30-minute breaks for every 5 hours worked, so if you work 10 hours you must take two 30-minute breaks, unless the workday is 12 hours or less. You are also entitled to paid 10-minute breaks for every 4 hours worked.

Overtime

Employees who work more than 8 hours a day or more than 40 hours a week must receive overtime pay, which is 1.5 times the normal wage. However, if an employee works more than 12 hours a day then the rate bumps to double your normal wage. Likewise, employees must be paid standard overtime if they work seven days in one week. You can read more about California’s overtime claims here.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

While the rules above apply to most employers, there are some industries that are exempt. If you believe you have been denied fair wages by your employer, contact our experienced wage and hour lawyers in Irvine today. We can discuss your case during a free consultation.

We handle many cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win compensation. Call (800) 543-4829 to get started.