DLSE Wage Claims Attorneys

Legal support for unpaid wages and labor violations. We recover the money you’ve earned and hold employers accountable for wage theft.

Legal Support When Your Employer Steals Your Wages

You work hard for your paycheck. When employers illegally withhold wages, fail to pay overtime,
or misclassify workers to avoid proper compensation, it’s wage theft—and it’s a crime.

California’s Labor Commissioner exists to recover unpaid wages quickly and affordably. If you’ve
been denied regular wages, overtime, meal breaks, rest breaks, commissions, vacation pay, or
reimbursements you’re owed, you can file a wage claim.

An experienced DLSE wage claim attorney can help you file your claim correctly, gather evidence,
represent you before the Labor Commissioner, and recover every dollar you’ve earned.

Categories of Wage Violations

The Main Types of Unpaid Wage Claims

California law requires employers to pay all wages earned. Common wage violations include:

Overtime and Regular Wage Theft

An employer fails to pay overtime (1.5x or 2x pay) or withholds regular hourly or salary wages earned during employment. (e.g., unpaid overtime hours, failure to pay promised hourly rates, or incorrect wage calculations).

Meal Period and Rest Break Violations

An employer fails to provide required meal breaks (30 minutes for 5+ hour shifts) or rest breaks (10 minutes per 4 hours worked), or fails to pay premium wages for breaks denied. (e.g., working through lunch without compensation, denied rest breaks, or required breaks on your own time).

Misclassification and Deduction Violations

An employer illegally classifies an employee as independent contractor, deducts wages unlawfully, or withholds commissions, vacation pay, or reimbursements owed. (e.g., forced to pay for tools/uniforms, unpaid commissions, withheld vacation upon termination, or misclassified as exempt).

Serious Financial Harm From Wage Theft

Lost Income and Penalties Against Unpaid Wages

Wage theft can devastate your finances and family. We fight for workers facing:

💼 Thousands in unpaid overtime and regular wages

💼 Unpaid meal and rest break premiums

💼 Withheld commissions and bonuses

💼 Unpaid final wages upon termination

💼 Bounced paychecks and late payment penalties

Practice Areas

Common DLSE Wage Claims We Handle

Unpaid Overtime and Wages

Claims for unpaid overtime, incorrect wage rates, failure to pay promised compensation, or improper wage deductions across hourly, salaried, piece-rate, or commission-based positions.

Meal Period and Rest Break Violations

Claims for missed meal breaks, denied rest breaks, and premium wages owed when employers fail to provide legally required breaks or require employees to work through breaks.

Wage Misclassification and Final Pay

Claims for wages owed due to misclassification as independent contractor or exempt employee, unpaid final wages upon discharge or quit, and withheld vacation or sick leave payouts.

Free Case Evaluation

DLSE Wage Claims Resources and Information

To learn more about wage claims, filing procedures, and your rights, visit these official organizations:

California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR)

Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)

OSHA – Workplace Safety and Health