As per California Employment and Labor Laws, employers in the state have the legal obligation to pay earned wages in full and on time to their employees. However, the amount and timing of the wages may vary. It may depend on whether the employees work on an hourly, salaried, or commissioned basis. And also if, in addition to their pay, they receive bonuses, insurance, and other benefits. Additionally, there are different employment rules and regulations on the local, state, and federal levels.
That can make it challenging for many employers to comply with the legal requirements. Some employers might take advantage of the complexities to avoid paying their employees proper compensation. If you are in that situation or are unable to figure out exactly how much they owe you, it may be necessary to work with an attorney to set things straight.
Importance of Hiring an Unpaid Wages Attorney
By hiring a competent Wage and Hour attorney Los Angeles employees can check if their employers engage in illegal conduct. They can then take steps to make their employers comply with legal requirements and give them the fair compensation they deserve. Here are some exact reasons why you need to have an Unpaid Wages Attorney by your side:
The attorney will be knowledgeable about employment laws
The attorney will know about the various pay requirements in California for different job roles and hours. They can explain the details of wage and hour laws and how these apply to your particular situation. They will also inform you about the legally mandated compensation you are entitled to receive. For instance, by law, your employer has to pay you a minimum wage, for overtime work, for accrued and untaken vacation time, and for some work-related travel.
The attorney will provide you with a complimentary assessment
When you visit the attorney for the first time, they will assess your case on a complimentary basis and let you know if you have a legal basis for your issue. They will inform you of the options you have, such as suing your employer in court, filing a claim against them with the California state labor department, or contacting the employer to negotiate an informal settlement. Additionally, they will tell you what your chances are of winning the dispute, what you might recover in damages, and the approximate legal costs you could incur.
Based on the information they provide during the free initial consultation, you can decide if it will be worth your while to take the matter to court, to file a claim with the California state labor department, or to settle it through mediation.
The attorney will investigate your case
After you hire the Unpaid Wages attorney, they will investigate your case and gather relevant evidence such as pay stubs, wage records, emails, and so on. They may even hire competent investigators to gather information from your workplace and work colleagues about your work schedule, work duties, and employment policies. They will then use the collected data to support your claim and build a case on your behalf.
The attorney will negotiate on your behalf
In addition to unpaid wages, you may be eligible for overtime pay and penalties for non-payment of wages. You may also be able to bring claims of unfair competition against your employer in California. With their knowledge of wage and hour laws, the Unpaid Wages attorney will be better placed than you to negotiate these matters with your employer in court, during the state labor department hearing, or informally. They may be able to get you more money than you expected to receive.
The attorney will file the case for you
If you decide to sue your employer, the attorney will file a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claim in state or federal court on your behalf. They will then have the filed complaint served to your employer. The latter will have to respond to deny or admit the allegations in your complaint. If it is not possible to negotiate a settlement, the matter will proceed to trial. Represented by the competent Wage and Hour Attorney Los Angeles employees may stand a better chance of prevailing and winning against their employer.