California Wage and Hour Attorneys for Employees
California employees have the right to be paid fully and fairly for the work they perform. When employers fail to pay wages, deny overtime, misclassify workers, withhold breaks, issue inaccurate pay stubs, or delay final paychecks, employees may have claims under California wage and hour laws.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in wage and hour matters involving individual claims, class actions, and PAGA actions. Our attorneys help workers understand what they may be owed, whether the violation affects other employees, and what legal options may be available.
California Wage and Hour Attorneys for Employees
California employees have the right to be paid fully and fairly for the work they perform. When employers fail to pay wages, deny overtime, misclassify workers, withhold breaks, issue inaccurate pay stubs, or delay final paychecks, employees may have claims under California wage and hour laws.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in wage and hour matters involving individual claims, class actions, and PAGA actions. Our attorneys help workers understand what they may be owed, whether the violation affects other employees, and what legal options may be available.
Wage and Hour Claims We Handle
Wage and hour violations can take many forms. Some involve a single employee. Others reflect company-wide pay practices that affect large groups of workers.
Our attorneys represent employees in matters involving:
- Unpaid wages
- Unpaid overtime
- Minimum wage violations
- Meal and rest break violations
- Off-the-clock work
- Misclassification of employees
- Independent contractor misclassification
- Inaccurate wage statements
- Late final paychecks
- Unlawful payroll deductions
- Failure to reimburse business expenses
- PAGA and class action claims
California employees may file wage claims with the Labor Commissioner for unpaid wages, overtime, unpaid meal and rest break premiums, sick leave, illegal deductions, and unreimbursed business expenses, with many claims subject to a three-year filing period.
Know Your Rights
California wage and hour law protects employees’ right to be paid for all compensable work. These claims may involve unpaid wages, overtime, missed meal or rest breaks, inaccurate wage statements, late final pay, unreimbursed expenses, misclassification, or company-wide payroll practices.
California Labor Code §§510 and 1194
Protect employees’ rights to overtime pay and recovery of unpaid wages.
California Labor Code §§512 and 226.7
Address meal period requirements and premium pay when required meal, rest, or recovery periods are not provided.
California Labor Code §226
Requires accurate wage statements with required pay, hour, rate, and employer information.
California Labor Code §§201–203
Address final wage payment and waiting time penalties when final wages are not paid as required.
California Labor Code §2802
Requires reimbursement for necessary business expenses.
A wage and hour claim often depends on classification, job duties, hours worked, pay records, wage statements, schedules, and whether the same practice affected other employees.
Our Wage and Hour Law Process
1. Review
We review the employee’s pay records, wage statements, time records, job duties, work schedules, communications, and any written policies that may affect compensation.
2. Claim Assessment
We evaluate whether the facts support claims for unpaid wages, overtime, missed breaks, misclassification, pay stub violations, waiting time penalties, reimbursement issues, PAGA penalties, or class-wide relief.
3. Employer Pattern Analysis
Some wage and hour violations affect more than one employee. We assess whether the issue appears limited to one worker or may reflect a broader policy, payroll practice, or classification problem.
4. Resolution or Litigation
Some cases may resolve through negotiation, settlement, or administrative action. Others require litigation, especially when the employer denies the violation, the unpaid wages are substantial, or many workers may have been affected.
Potential Outcomes
A wage and hour matter may result in:
– Recovery of unpaid wages
– Overtime compensation
– Meal and rest break premiums
– Waiting time penalties
– Pay stub penalties
– Reimbursement of business expenses
– Interest and statutory penalties
– PAGA penalties where applicable
– Class-wide settlement or judgment
– Changes to unlawful pay practices
Timelines vary based on the claim type, size of the case, available records, number of employees affected, and whether the matter proceeds as an individual claim, class action, or PAGA action.
BH Wage and Hour Case Results
Buchsbaum Haag attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for employees in wage and hour matters, including individual claims, class actions, and PAGA actions. Career settlements, awards, and verdicts across all employment matters exceed $50 million. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Wage and Hour Class Actions and PAGA Claims
Some wage and hour violations are isolated. Others are built into an employer’s policies or payroll systems. When multiple employees are affected by the same unlawful practice, a class action or PAGA claim may be appropriate.
PAGA may apply when employees seek civil penalties for Labor Code violations, including unpaid overtime, denied meal or rest breaks, payroll violations, or other wage and hour issues. Buchsbaum Haag’s PAGA page specifically identifies overtime, meal breaks, rest breaks, payroll issues, and wage and hour violations as areas where PAGA may help protect employee rights.
Additional Wage and Hour Law Practice Areas
Learn More About PAGA ->Frequently Asked Questions
A wage and hour claim involves an employer’s failure to properly pay an employee or comply with California labor laws. These claims may involve unpaid wages, overtime, missed meal or rest breaks, pay stub violations, misclassification, unreimbursed business expenses, or late final pay. California law provides some of the strongest wage protections in the country, and employees may be entitled to recover not just unpaid wages but also penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees depending on the violation.
Yes. A salary alone does not determine whether an employee is exempt from overtime or other wage protections. Exemption depends on the employee’s actual job duties, level of independent judgment, authority over others, and pay structure — not just the label an employer uses. Employees misclassified as exempt may be entitled to unpaid overtime, missed break premiums, and other compensation.
Save everything — pay stubs, time records, schedules, offer letters, emails, and any written policies about pay or hours. Do not assume the error was accidental or will be corrected. Employers are required to provide accurate wage statements under California law, and violations can carry their own penalties. An employment attorney can review your records and determine whether the discrepancy reflects a broader wage violation.
Yes. When the same unlawful pay practice affects multiple employees, the case may be appropriate for a class action or PAGA claim. Common examples include company-wide overtime violations, automatic meal break deductions, misclassification of a job category, or inaccurate wage statements issued across a workforce. Class actions and PAGA claims can result in compensation for large groups of workers and changes to unlawful employer practices.
Depending on the claim, employees may recover unpaid wages, overtime compensation, meal and rest break premiums, waiting time penalties for late final pay, pay stub penalties, reimbursement of business expenses, interest, and PAGA penalties where applicable. In class actions, compensation may extend to all affected employees. Attorney’s fees may also be available, which means many wage and hour cases can be pursued without upfront legal costs.
Contact Our Wage and Hour Lawyers
If you believe your employer failed to pay you properly, denied breaks, misclassified your role, issued inaccurate wage statements, or withheld wages after termination, Buchsbaum Haag can evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in wage and hour matters throughout Southern California, including Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, and surrounding communities. Our office is located in Long Beach.
To arrange a free initial consultation, call 562-733-2498. Hablamos español.