California Workers’ Rights Laws
Attorneys define wage and hour laws as encompassing minimum wage, tips, overtime, meal and rest breaks, pay dates, and the like. While there are federal laws regarding minimum wage and overtime pay, California amends these subjects with its laws and specifications.
Wage and overtime laws in California changed in 2020, so your employer may not be within the limits of the law, depending on how they are compensating you for your time. If you feel your employer has not been fairly compensating you, then you should contact an unpaid overtime lawyer in Los Angeles immediately. Together, you can both build a case regarding your compensation.
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in California is higher than most states, partially because of the more expensive standard of living. Lawmakers recently voted to increase the minimum wage over a few years, ascending little by little before reaching $15 an hour.
California’s current minimum wage rate is $12 an hour for 26 or more employees and $11 an hour for less than 26 employees (smaller businesses). In 2021, the minimum wage will increase to $13 an hour for smaller employers, and larger businesses will pay workers $14.00 an hour. The annual increases will continue until 2023, when all companies must pay a minimum wage of $15 an hour.
Overtime
As for working past the typical 40 hours a week, some employees are entitled to overtime. This is something your employer should know and have included in the job offer that you signed.
There are two classifications of workers in regards to overtime eligibility. The FLSA divides positions into “exempt” and “non-exempt.”
- Exempt – Exempt employees do not earn overtime pay for additional hours worked. These employees typically get paid an annual salary, so their hours are untracked – it differs slightly from the hourly rate.
- Non-Exempt – Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay. Employees who fall within this category must be paid a minimum of 1.5 times their usual hourly rate for any overtime hours worked.
As the average workweek is understood to be 40 hours, any non-exempt employee should receive “time and a half,” meaning 1.5 times their hourly rate, for overtime hours worked. If an employee works 12 hours in a single day, California law requires double-time, meaning two times their regular rate. If an employee works all seven days in one week, that employee is entitled to time and a half for the first eight hours of work on that seventh day and double time for any additional hours.
Since the California law differs from what is commonplace in other states, it’s possible that you need to pursue legal representation to sue an employer for unpaid wages for which you’re entitled. Overtime dispute lawyers in Los Angeles will be vital in ensuring that you are being compensated legally.
Tips
Service industry jobs have the additional benefit of earning tips paid by the customer for a job well done. Patrons voluntarily give tips, and only non-managerial, customer-facing employees are entitled to them.
Tips should not be subtracted from an employee’s paycheck, nor should they be considered part of their regular pay rate. If your employer is deducting the number of tips you earned from your paycheck, then what they are doing is illegal, and you may need a workers’ rights attorney.
Tip pooling is practiced in some bars and restaurants to ensure that all customer-facing employees are getting paid for their hard work. Typically, all gratuities from the workday or workweek are added together and distributed to employees based on their hours.
Lunch and Rest Breaks
Rest breaks are given to employees to ensure that they have time to eat and aren’t being overworked, as overworked employees are more susceptible to workplace injuries.
State law in California requires that employees be given a 30 minute, unpaid meal break if they work over six hours in one day. This break should be taken after five hours of work. If the employee is working less than six hours that day, they can waive this rest period, but both the employee and their supervisor must consent.
Ensuring Compensation
Since California wage and overtime laws changed in the past year, it’s possible your employer has not caught on yet to these new regulations. These laws were put in place to provide more support to the working population, and any business that is not adhering to the new minimum wage and overtime laws is committing a crime.
If this is your case, then you may have a compensation claim. Mann & Elias is a dedicated law firm with trusted attorneys that can go over your case with you and compare your hours worked to the amount you have been paid. If your lawyer finds you are missing compensation, you can put together a case and bring your employer to court. Don’t wait on filing your claim; schedule a consultation with us immediately to avoid missing out on any unpaid wages.