Modesto Wage and Hour Lawyer

Modesto Wage and Hour Attorney

Every worker deserves fair pay for the time they work. Unfortunately, employers do not always act in their employees’ interest. However, there are laws in place to protect employees from bad actors. If you have suffered lost wages, retaliation, or other wrongful action by an employer who violated your rights, consider consulting with an experienced Modesto wage and hour lawyer at Asbill Law Group, APLC, to learn your legal rights and options.

Asbill Law Group APLC has been committed to preserving employees’ rights in California for more than ten years. No employee should be denied pay or their rights under the law, and your attorney can review the facts of your case and guide you through the complexities of the complaint process. If necessary, we can represent you in negotiations and court to hold your employer responsible and obtain the compensation you earned.

Wage and Hour Law in California

The basics of wage and hour law in California is that employers are required to pay employees a fair wage for their time at work and cannot ask most employees to work extra time without extra compensation. While this seems pretty straightforward, there are many regulations in place to make sure guidelines are very clear about how employees must be paid.

In 2025, the overall minimum wage in California is $16.50 an hour, but some industries have higher minimum wages. Fast food employees must be paid at least $20.00 an hour, for example, and the minimum wage for healthcare employees at certain kinds of facilities like hospitals and resident care facilities may be $18 or more per hour. Tips do not count toward the minimum wage in California.

Employees can only work 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, or 6 days a week before they must be paid overtime pay. So, if you work 10 hours in one day, 2 hours of that time is payable at 1.5 times your regular pay rate. In addition, for shifts longer than 12 hours, employees must be paid twice their regular rate. In addition, work time is not only the time an employee spends actively engaged in the tasks of their job but also time spent waiting at the job site.

Employer Violations

California is one of the most pro-employee states regarding wage and hour law, and the state takes violations by employers very seriously. Each case has its own facts and circumstances, but some kinds of violations are all too common.

• Nonpayment of minimum wage, overtime, or business expenses
• Requiring employees to work off the clock
• Not allowing workers rest and meal periods
• Not providing detailed paystubs
• Miscategorizing hourly employees as contractors

Penalties for Employers in California

Employers that violate wage and hour laws in California are subject to steep penalties. Workers are entitled to file legal claims for nonpayment and other violations, and employers may be subject to fines in addition to paying back wages. If the employer’s violations are proven to be willful, criminal prosecution may apply and can lead to large fines or even imprisonment.

An Experienced Modesto Wage and Hour Lawyer Can Help

If your employer has not paid you for the time you worked, not provided you with proper breaks, or violated your other rights as a worker, a Modesto wage and hour lawyer can help preserve your interests and make sure you are paid fairly. A knowledgeable employment law attorney can assess the facts of your case and guide you through filing a complaint and pursuing legal action if needed to help you recover unpaid wages and hold your employer accountable.

FAQs

What Is the 7-Minute Rule for Payroll in California?

The 7-Minute Rule in California allows employers to round their employees’ work time up or down to the nearest 15-minute increment to make timekeeping easier. This means that employers can round 1-7 minutes down. They also have to round 8-14 minutes up to 15 minutes. It is important to note that some employers opt not to round time at all, and others use 5- or 6-minute rounding methods.

What Is the 4-Hour Rule in California?

The 4-hour rule in California means that, in most situations, any employee who reports for their scheduled shift must be paid their regular rate for at least half of their scheduled work hours, even if they are sent home early or complete their work before the end of their shift. The goal is to minimize any lost wages for circumstances beyond the control of the worker.

What Are the Rules for Hourly Employees in California?

All hourly employees in California are entitled to a minimum wage set by the state, as well as overtime pay. Employees must also receive a 30-minute unpaid meal break if they work more than 5 hours and a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours they work in a given workday. Hourly employees are also entitled to pay statements that include details about how their pay is calculated.

Do Employers in California Have to Pay Employees for After-hours Texts, Emails, and Calls?

Yes, all employers in California have to pay their employees for after-hours texts, emails, and calls. California requires nonexempt employees to be paid for all hours worked, even when that time is outside of their regular work hours. Even if an employer prohibits all of their employees from working outside of their regular work hours, they must still pay workers for any time an employee does work.

Protecting Employee Rights – Asbill Law Group, APLC

The skilled legal team at Asbill Law Group, APLC, is committed to safeguarding the rights of employees. With more than ten years of experience in employment law, we treat each client with the individual attention they need and have the knowledge and resources to achieve a positive outcome in your wage and hour case. To set up a consultation and learn your legal rights, contact our office today, and we can discuss the details of your case.