If your employer shorted your paycheck, denied your breaks, or withheld your commissions, LyfeLaw’s unpaid wages attorneys recover what you earned plus the penalties and interest California law adds on top.
Wage theft rarely looks dramatic it hides in rounding, in the word “salary,” and in the wrong job title. A wage theft attorney finds it and makes employers pay what they owe.
California requires 1.5x pay after 8 hours in a day or 40 in a week, and double time beyond 12 hours. Being salaried doesn’t automatically make you exempt. An unpaid overtime attorney recovers every hour you weren’t paid for.
You’re owed an uninterrupted 30-minute meal break and paid rest breaks on schedule. Each missed break is a full hour of premium pay and across months, those add up fast. We collect them.
Earned commissions and bonuses are wages under California law, and holding them back is wage theft. A commission dispute attorney enforces your written commission plan and recovers what was withheld at separation.
Being labeled “exempt” or an “independent contractor” to dodge overtime, and late final paychecks, both break the Labor Code. A late final check triggers waiting-time penalties of up to 30 days’ wages.
Prep, cleanup, security checks, travel between sites, and answering messages before or after your shift are all compensable time. Employers who don’t count it commit wage theft. An unpaid wage lawyer recovers it.
Being paid below California or your city’s minimum wage, or having deductions taken for uniforms, tools, register shortages, or breakage, violates the Labor Code. We claw back every dollar withheld.
Call or submit the form. Our team reviews your case within minutes, not days.
Private investigation costs, expert witnesses, and HR records. You’ll never pay a dime out of pocket.
We negotiate from strength. If they won’t pay what your case is worth, we take them to trial.
California has some of the strongest wage protections in the country, and employers break them constantly sometimes by mistake, often to cut costs. Whether you were denied overtime, pressured to work through breaks, paid a flat salary to avoid extra hours, or never paid the commissions you earned, an unpaid wages lawyer puts the law on your side. LyfeLaw calculates exactly what you’re owed, files with the Labor Commissioner or in court, and pursues the penalties employers hope you’ll never claim. In most cases, you pay nothing unless we win.
Most unpaid-wage claims under the California Labor Code carry a three-year deadline, which can extend to four years when brought under the Unfair Competition Law. Claims based on a written contract including many commission agreements may reach four years. Because every pay period can add to what you’re owed, acting sooner protects more of your wages. You can pursue a claim through the Labor Commissioner or in court, and we’ll advise which path recovers the most.
You can recover your unpaid wages, overtime, and commissions, one hour of premium pay for each missed meal or rest break, and waiting-time penalties of up to 30 days’ wages for a late final paycheck. Interest, and in many cases your attorney’s fees, are recoverable as well. Where violations are widespread, additional penalties may apply under California’s private enforcement laws.
Employers assume most workers won’t do the math or file a claim. LyfeLaw maintains a full trial team with 18+ licensed attorneys and calculates every dollar down to the pay period. When a company sees a documented claim backed by a firm ready to litigate, paying what they owe becomes the cheaper choice.
LyfeLaw proudly represents employees throughout Los Angeles County including Downtown LA, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, Pasadena, Inglewood, Glendale, Burbank, Torrance, and surrounding communities. Our office is at 10880 Wilshire Blvd, 24th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
In addition to Los Angeles, we represent employees throughout California. Wherever you are in the state, our employment law team is available to help you understand your rights and determine your legal options.
If you’ve faced discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination, we’re here to protect your rights. Free consultation.
