California Wage & Hour Attorney

Over 25 Years Taking On the Wage Claims Other Firms Turn Down

California gives workers some of the strongest wage protections in the country, but employers still find ways to underpay, misclassify, and shortchange employees at every level. Polaris Law Group represents employees across California on the full range of wage and hour violations: unpaid overtime, missed breaks, minimum wage shortfalls, misclassification, unreimbursed expenses, and more. Attorney Bill Marder has practiced employment law for over 25 years and takes on the multi-issue wage claims other firms frequently decline.

Overtime Pay Rules in California

California’s overtime rules are stricter than federal law requires. Non-exempt employees are entitled to one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 8 in a single day or beyond 40 in a workweek. Double time applies when a shift exceeds 12 hours or when an employee works more than 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day of a workweek.

Many overtime disputes begin with misclassification. When an employer labels a worker as exempt or as an independent contractor without meeting the legal standard, that worker can be denied overtime without a single irregularity appearing on a pay stub. Identifying misclassification is often the first step in an overtime claim.

Meal & Rest Break Requirements Under California Law

Non-exempt employees in California are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break for any shift over 5 hours and a second 30-minute meal break when a shift exceeds 10 hours. They’re also entitled to a paid 10-minute rest break for approximately every 4 hours worked. These aren’t optional benefits; they’re legal requirements.

When an employer fails to provide a required break or interrupts one, the employee is owed one additional hour of pay at their regular rate for each violation, per workday. For employees working irregular or extended shifts, those premiums can accumulate significantly over time.

Minimum Wage Violations & Employee Misclassification

California’s statewide minimum wage is updated periodically and exceeds the federal rate. Some cities and industries set even higher local minimums. Employers must pay whichever rate is highest for the work being performed, and failing to do so is a wage violation regardless of what an employment agreement says.

Misclassification is one of the most common ways employees lose minimum wage protections. California applies the ABC test to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Under this test, a worker is presumed to be an employee unless the hiring business can demonstrate all three conditions: the worker is free from the business’s control, performs work outside the business’s usual operations, and is independently established in that type of work. Workers who don’t satisfy all three conditions are employees entitled to full wage protections.

Unreimbursed Business Expenses Under Labor Code Section 2802

California Labor Code Section 2802 requires employers to reimburse employees for necessary expenses incurred as a direct result of performing their job duties. Mileage and vehicle costs, required tools or equipment, and job-related purchases the employer didn’t cover all qualify. Employees denied reimbursement can file a claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office or pursue a civil lawsuit to recover what they’re owed.

Deadlines for California Wage & Hour Claims

Filing deadlines run from each individual violation, not from the date an employee leaves a job. A worker who is still employed can have actionable claims. Consulting a wages lawyer in California as soon as a violation is suspected can help protect the full recovery period.

Statute of limitations by claim type:

• Overtime, minimum wage, and unreimbursed expense claims: three years from the date of each violation
• Claims based on an oral promise to pay: two years
• Claims based on a written contract: four years

Missing the applicable deadline can bar recovery entirely.

How Polaris Law Group Handles a Wage Case

The process at Polaris Law Group is built around moving quickly. After an initial consultation about the facts of the case, Attorney Marder works to get a lawsuit filed within days. The firm’s streamlined approach eliminates the cycle of multiple preliminary meetings before any action is taken, and clients receive individualized attention on their specific claim rather than a standardized intake that treats every case the same way.

Millions Recovered for California Employees

Bill Marder has a documented record of taking on wage and hour cases that other law firms turn down, including claims involving multiple violation types or disputed classification status. His knowledge of both federal and state employment law allows him to assess how overlapping rules apply to a single set of facts. Polaris Law Group has recovered millions of dollars for employees who were owed wages and didn’t know where to turn.

Start a Free Wage Claim Consultation

If you believe your employer has violated your wage rights, the consultation is free and there are no legal fees unless Polaris Law Group recovers money in your case. Se habla Español.