Employment

California Wage Lawyer

Has your employer shorted you on minimum wage, overtime, or meal and rest break pay? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — we help California workers recover what they earned. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.

California Wage Lawyer
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Understanding Your Wage & Hour Case

Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.

A California wage lawyer helps employees recover pay their employer failed to lawfully provide. Wilshire Law Firm handles the full range of wage and hour violations, including failure to pay minimum wage, unpaid overtime, missed meal and rest break premiums, unpaid commissions or bonuses, and illegal paycheck deductions. Our legal professionals review your pay records, explain your rights, and pursue your unpaid wages through negotiation or litigation. There are no fees unless you get paid.

Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team with a proven record of standing up for California workers. Our attorneys examine your pay stubs, timekeeping records, and employment agreements, handle every conversation with your employer and their lawyers, and build your case for full recovery — all with personalized attention. There are no fees unless you get paid. Learn more about our broader employment law practice.

California workers can generally recover for a wide range of wage and hour violations. The most common include unpaid minimum wage, unpaid overtime under Labor Code §510 (time-and-a-half after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, and double time after 12 hours in a day), missed meal and rest break premiums under Labor Code §226.7 and §512, unpaid or withheld commissions and bonuses, and unlawful paycheck deductions. Because every workplace is different, a legal professional can review your situation during a free case review. See our focused pages on unpaid wages and equal pay.

Employees can generally recover their unpaid wages plus additional penalties and interest. This commonly includes the full amount of unpaid minimum wage and overtime, premium pay for missed meal and rest breaks, waiting time penalties under Labor Code §203 when a final paycheck is late, wage statement penalties under Labor Code §226, and interest and attorney's fees. Because the exact amounts depend on your hours and pay history, a legal professional can estimate your potential recovery during a free case review.

In most California wage cases you have three years to file a claim for unpaid wages, minimum wage, and overtime, and up to four years when the claim is brought under California's Unfair Competition Law (Business and Professions Code §17200). Claims for a written contract, such as unpaid bonuses, can reach four years. Because deadlines vary by the type of violation and missing one can end your claim, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.

Client Reviews


“Wilshire Law Firm was very fast responding to me about my case… they were very nice and helpful and made sure I understood all of the facts. I would recommend [Wilshire Law Firm] for anyone who is looking for the best; they are number one. Thank you Wilshire and staff for making things feel easier.”

Angela B.

Wage & Hour

$6.8M

San Bernardino County wage and hour class action settlement: a class of employees alleged their employer failed to pay wages owed and sought related penalties.

Wage & Hour

$5.5M

Oakland wage and hour class action settlement: senior living facility employees alleged unpaid wages, meal and rest break violations and unreimbursed expenses in class and representative claims.

Wage & Hour

$4.0M

Hawthorne wage and hour class action settlement: a manufacturer's hourly employees alleged missed rest breaks, short or late meal periods and unpaid wages, plus unreimbursed work expenses.

Wage & Hour

$3.9M

Newport Beach wage and hour class action settlement: hourly manufacturing plant employees alleged late and interrupted meal and rest breaks and sought unpaid premium pay.

Wage & Hour

$3.5M

Camarillo wage and hour class action settlement: hourly employees alleged meal and rest period violations and sought unpaid wages plus the related premiums.

Wage & Hour

$3.5M

Alameda County wage and hour class action settlement: hourly workers at a security systems company alleged unpaid wages and meal and rest period violations, and sought break premiums.

Wage & Hour

$3.3M

Irvine wage and hour class action settlement: hourly employees of a products company alleged they were denied compliant meal and rest breaks and sought premium pay and expense reimbursement.

Wage & Hour

$3.1M

Torrance wage and hour class action settlement: retail store employees alleged unpaid wages and meal and rest period violations, seeking final pay, waiting-time penalties and expense reimbursement.

Wage & Hour

$3.0M

Thousand Oaks wage and hour class action settlement: a manufacturer's employees alleged unpaid pre-shift work and noncompliant meal and rest breaks, seeking break premiums and expense reimbursement.

Wage & Hour

$3.0M

Orange County wage and hour class action settlement: a healthcare employer's hourly workers alleged unpaid overtime and meal and rest break violations and sought premium pay and expense reimbursement.

Wage & Hour

$3.0M

San Diego wage and hour class action settlement: hourly employees alleged unpaid wages and break violations, pursuing meal and rest period premiums and repayment of work costs.

Wage & Hour

$2.8M

Riverside County wage and hour class action settlement: a restaurant franchise's hourly workers alleged unpaid wages and meal and rest period violations and sought to recover their work expenses.

Wage & Hour

$2.8M

Brentwood wage and hour class action settlement: an education provider's hourly staff alleged unpaid wages and meal and rest period violations and sought premium pay and expense reimbursement.

Wage & Hour

$2.5M

San Francisco County wage and hour class action settlement: hourly campus employees sought unpaid wages and work expense reimbursement, alleging meal and rest period violations.

Wage & Hour

$2.5M

San Jose wage and hour class action settlement: hourly car dealership employees alleged they were underpaid, denied proper meal and rest periods and not reimbursed for work expenses.

Wage & Hour

$2.5M

San Francisco County wage and hour class action settlement: hourly clinic staff alleged off-the-clock work, meal and rest period violations, unpaid premiums and unreimbursed work expenses.

Wage & Hour

$2.5M

San Leandro wage and hour class action settlement: hourly employees alleged unpaid overtime, unpaid wages and meal and rest period violations, and claimed break premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Wage & Hour

$2.4M

Orange County wage and hour class action settlement: restaurant employees alleged a franchise operator failed to provide legally required meal and rest breaks or pay the premiums owed.

Wage & Hour

$2.2M

Los Angeles wage and hour class action settlement: hourly hospital employees alleged their employer failed to provide meal periods required by California law.

Wage & Hour

$2.1M

San Diego County wage and hour class action settlement: franchise restaurant workers alleged unpaid off-the-clock work, late meal and rest breaks without premium pay, and unreimbursed work gear.

Wage & Hour

$2.0M

Tulare wage and hour class action settlement: food processing employees alleged interrupted rest breaks without premium pay and no reimbursement for personal phones used for work.

Wage & Hour

$2.0M

Watsonville wage and hour class action settlement: hourly workers at an agricultural company alleged unpaid overtime, interrupted lunches and missing rest breaks during long shifts.

Wage & Hour

$1.6M

Barstow wage and hour class action settlement: hourly workers at a vehicle-services business alleged unpaid off-the-clock time, meal and rest break violations and unreimbursed uniform costs.

Wage & Hour

$910K

Gardena wage and hour class action settlement: hourly employees alleged they were denied meal and rest breaks without premium pay and had to cover supplies and phone costs.

Wage & Hour

$220K

Signal Hill wage and hour class action settlement: employees alleged they missed meal and rest breaks without receiving premium pay and were not paid for all time worked.

Wage & Hour

$200K

Hemet wage and hour class action settlement: hourly thrift store employees alleged meal and rest period violations, seeking premium pay, cell phone expense reimbursement and PAGA penalties.

Wage & Hour

$185K

Shasta County wage and hour settlement: an employee brought a representative claim on behalf of healthcare employees, alleging meal and rest period violations, unpaid wages and unreimbursed expenses.

Wage & Hour

$116K

San Diego wage and hour settlement: a restaurant employee alleged unpaid overtime from edited time sheets and straight-time pay for extra hours, plus missed meal and rest breaks.

Wage & Hour

$100K

Victorville wage and hour class action settlement: hourly restaurant employees alleged their employer left wages unpaid, violated meal and rest period rules and did not reimburse work expenses.

*Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.

Wage & Hour Cases: How It Works

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It starts with one call. From there, we handle everything, building your case, standing up to insurance companies and corporations, and fighting for your future. Here's how it works...

How Do I Know If I Have a California Wage Claim?

You likely have a valid California wage claim if your employer failed to pay you all the wages you legally earned — including minimum wage, overtime, or missed meal and rest break premiums. Common signs include working off the clock, being misclassified as exempt or as an independent contractor, not receiving overtime after 8 hours in a day, being denied duty-free breaks, or seeing unexplained deductions on your paycheck. California wage-claim deadlines apply, so contact Wilshire Law Firm's employment attorneys for a free case evaluation.

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Record-breaking results

Winners of #1 Settlements in California

Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.

17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*

TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements

1 of 17

  • #1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement — California (2024)

    #1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement

    2024

  • #1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement — California (2024)

    #1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement

    2024

  • #1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement — California (2024)

    #1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement

    2024

  • #1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement — California (2024)

    #1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement

    2024

  • #1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement — California (2024)

    #1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement

    2024

  • #1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Negligent Security Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Negligent Security Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Ladder Accident Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Ladder Accident Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement — California (2023)

    #1 Bicycle Accident Settlement

    2023

  • #1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement — California (2022)

    #1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement

    2022

  • #1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement — California (2022)

    #1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement

    2022

  • #1 Wrongful Termination Settlement — California (2022)

    #1 Wrongful Termination Settlement

    2022

  • #1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement — California (2022)

    #1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement

    2022

*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Wage & Hour FAQs

Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.

Generally yes. Most non-exempt California employees are entitled to overtime pay, and the Labor Code allows workers to recover unpaid minimum wage and overtime. If your employer failed to pay you for all hours worked, including off-the-clock time, you may be owed back pay. An attorney can review your records.

Employees denied a required meal or rest break are generally owed one hour of premium pay for each type of break missed. These premiums can add up over months of violations. Keep any records of your schedule and missed breaks.

California imposes waiting-time penalties when an employer fails to pay all final wages on time after you leave a job. The penalty can equal a day of wages for each day the pay is late, up to a set maximum. An attorney can calculate what you may be owed.

No. California law prohibits firing, demoting, or otherwise punishing workers for asserting their wage rights. If you faced retaliation for raising a pay issue, that can be a separate claim on top of the unpaid wages. The rule is Lab. Code §98.6: a worker who is fired, demoted or otherwise punished for filing a wage claim or complaining about unpaid wages can recover reinstatement, lost wages and benefits, and a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. If the employer acts within 90 days of the complaint, the law presumes retaliation unless the employer can rebut it (Lab. Code §98.6(b)).

Deadlines depend on the type of claim, and different wage violations carry different filing periods with their own exceptions. Claims for unpaid minimum wage or overtime rest on the Labor Code, so they generally carry the three-year deadline for liabilities created by statute (Code Civ. Proc. §338(a)). A claim on a written employment contract has four years (Code Civ. Proc. §337(a)), as does a claim under the Unfair Competition Law (Bus. & Prof. Code §17208). If you have faced workplace retaliation, you may have an additional claim.

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