Stockton Wage & Hour Lawyer

California employees enjoy a number of protections under federal and state wage and hour laws. These laws govern matters such as the minimum wage, overtime, and even meal and rest breaks. If you work for an employer that fails to comply with any of these requirements, the Stockton wage and hour lawyers at Venardi Zurada LLP can represent you in taking appropriate legal action to enforce your rights under the law.

How Do Wage & Hour Laws Protect Stockton Workers?

Every employee has the right to compensation for the work they perform. California’s wage and hour laws set certain minimum compensation standards, including but not limited to:

• Minimum Wage: As of January 1, 2025, California’s statewide minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. Some cities require their local employers to pay an even higher minimum wage.
• Overtime & Double Time: If you work more than 8 hours in a workday or more than 40 hours in a workweek, you are entitled to 1.5 times your normal hourly wage for those additional hours. If you work more than 12 hours in a workday, you are entitled to 2 times your normal hourly wage for those additional hours.
• Leave: California does not require employers to offer their employees vacation time. But employees are entitled to a certain amount of family leave, pregnancy disability leave, and sick leave. While most such leave is unpaid, it is job-protected, meaning the employee cannot be fired or demoted for using it.
• Resting and Meal Breaks: Federal law does not require employers to provide their workers with rest or meal breaks. California law, however, affords employees a paid 10-minute break for every 4 hours worked, as well as an unpaid 30-minute meal break if they work a shift longer than 5 hours.

Many of the wage and hour laws described above only cover “non-exempt” employees. Exempt employers are typically those who work salaried positions in an executive, administrative, or professional role. Most workers are non-exempt and thus covered by wage and hour laws. Employers who intentionally misclassify a non-exempt employee as exempt–or misclassify an employee as an independent contractor–face significant civil penalties.

Contact Our Stockton Wage & Hour Lawyers

California law gives you the right to sue your employer for a wage and hour violation. This means if your employer fails to pay you the minimum wage, pay you overtime, or pay you at all, you can take legal action to recover the money owed to you. Additionally, you can seek interest on those unpaid wages as well as your attorney fees and court costs.

Indeed, if you have any reason to believe your employer is not complying with the law, it is imperative that you speak with a qualified Stockton wage and hour lawyer as soon as possible. The team at Venardi Zurada will be happy to review your case and advise you on a course of action. Call us today at (833) VZ FOR ME to schedule a free confidential consultation.

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