Los Angeles Wage and Hour Disputes Attorney

Wage and hour laws exist to make sure employers treat employees fairly. When an employer breaks a wage or hour law, the employee can suffer loss of income, job termination, and other adverse effects. Matters can get worse for the employee when he or she reports wage and hour infractions. The employee might then face unlawful retaliation and compensation disputes. If this sounds familiar, the attorneys at The Law Office of Omid Nosrati can help. Wage and Hour Dispute Attorney Omid Nosrati and his team have over 20 years of combined experience fighting for employee rights in Los Angeles and understand the complexity of wage and hour laws.

Our Attorneys Handle All Types of Wage and Hour Claims

The Law Office of Omid Nosrati handles all manner of wage and hour disputes, including:

• Overtime pay
• Vacation pay
• Misclassification of employees as “exempt”
• Independent contractors
• Working “off-the-clock”
• Rest break and meal break payment
• Severance pay
• Forcing employees to be “on-call” without pay
• Minimum wage violations

Wage and Hour Laws in California

California employers must abide by both federal and state wage and hour laws when conducting business. The main federal law is the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the FLSA. The FLSA establishes a minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws affecting all employees. The FLSA, along with a few state-specific wage and hour laws, help protect the health and safety of workers. Three of the most important wage and hour laws affecting California employees are as follows:

• Minimum wage

  •  The current minimum wage in California is $10.50 for employers with up to 25 employees and $11 for larger employers. In 2019, these numbers will increase to $11 and $12, respectively. They will continue to increase each year until 2023 when all employers must pay minimum wages of $15.

• Overtime

  •  California overtime laws make it mandatory for all employers to pay overtime wages of one and one-half times the amount of normal wages for every hour of overtime. “Overtime” refers to any time worked over eight hours per day or more than 40 hours per workweek. There are a few exemptions and exceptions to the general overtime law.

• Breaks

  •  All workers can take one 30-minute, unpaid meal break after five hours of work, unless the employee will complete the shift in six hours or less and the employee and employer agree not to take the break. No employee can work more than 10 hours in a day without a second 30-minute break, unless the shift will last less than 12 hours and both parties agree to waive it (only if the employee did not waive the first break).

If there is both a federal and a state law regarding the same issue, the employer must abide by the one that is the most generous to the employee. For example, the federal minimum wage is only $7.25, but since California’s state minimum wage is higher, California employers must pay the higher wage. Wage and hour laws can be complex, but it’s an employer’s duty to keep up with them and treat employees according to the requirements of the law. Failure to do so can result in disputes.

Retain an Attorney for Los Angeles Wage and Hour Disputes

Going up against your employer in a wage and hour dispute isn’t something you want to do alone. While the law is likely on your side, you need the proper evidence and elements of proof for a successful claim. An attorney can gather evidence, strengthen your case, and fight for fair compensation for your lost wages, overtime pay, and other penalties. There are many situations in which a lawyer can be a significant benefit to you as a California employee. To speak with an experienced employment law lawyer in Los Angeles, count on The Law Office of Omid Nosrati. Call (310) 553-5630 or contact our law office online for a free consultation.