California unpaid wages lawsuit: Are you owed back pay?

Were you denied overtime, breaks or payment for all hours worked?

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Employees who were not properly paid for all hours worked may qualify to seek unpaid wages or back pay through this California unpaid wages lawsuit investigation.

What to know about the California unpaid wages lawsuit investigation

• Core Issue: California employers may be violating state labor law or employment law by failing to pay overtime, denying meal and rest breaks, requiring off-the-clock work or misclassifying workers as independent contractors.

• Who it Affects: California workers who were not paid overtime pay, worked off the clock, missed required meal or rest breaks, were misclassified or otherwise did not receive all the wages they earned may qualify. This lawsuit investigation may impact employees across a wide range of industries, including retail, restaurant, warehousing and transportation, as well as truck drivers, healthcare professionals and office workers.

• Harm/Impact: Employees may have lost significant compensation due to unpaid overtime, missed breaks, off-the-clock work, unreimbursed expenses or other wage and hour violations.

• Legal Status: Attorneys are actively investigating claims.

• Take Action: If this happened to you within the past four years, you may qualify to pursue unpaid wages, back pay, penalties or other compensation through a California unpaid wages lawsuit. Complete the short form to see if you qualify to take legal action.

What is the California unpaid wages lawsuit investigation about?

Attorneys are investigating whether some California employers failed to properly pay workers for all hours worked and comply with state wage and hour laws.

The investigation is examining whether some companies may have:

• Failed to properly compensate employees for their work
• Denied overtime pay or meal and rest breaks required under California overtime laws and other labor laws
• Used unlawful pay practices or employee classifications to reduce labor costs

Workers who qualify to take legal action may be able to seek unpaid wages, back pay, penalties and other compensation.

Who may qualify for the California unpaid wages lawsuit?

You may qualify if you worked in California within the past four years and experienced one or more of the following:

• Worked more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week without proper overtime pay
• Worked more than 12 hours in a day without receiving double-time pay
• Worked before clocking in or after clocking out without pay
• Regularly missed or worked through required meal or rest breaks
• Had your work time removed, rounded or changed
• Were classified as salaried or exempt but primarily performed non-managerial work
• Were classified as an independent contractor even though the company controlled your work
• Paid work-related expenses that your employer did not reimburse
• Were paid less than the California minimum wage
• Spent time waiting to clock in or going through required screenings without pay

If you are unsure whether your experience may qualify as a wage and hour violation, complete the form on this page. Your information will be reviewed by a legal representative who will determine if you are eligible. 

Time limits may apply. Do not wait to check whether you may qualify.

Legally reviewed by: Lauren Davis
Attorney, The Kick Law Firm, APC

The law firm responsible for the content of this page is: The Kick Law Firm, APC; 815 Moraga Drive, Los Angeles, CA; 310-395-2988; kicklawfirm.com.oraga Drive, Los Angeles, CA; 310-395-2988; kicklawfirm.com.

Case updates

Legal status as of September 2026

• Attorneys are actively investigating claims.

This page was last reviewed and updated in September 2026 to reflect the latest case developments.

How wage and hour violations can cause How wage and hour violations can cause lasting harm

California wage and hour violations can have a serious financial impact on workers. Employees who are denied overtime pay, required to work off the clock or not properly compensated for all hours worked may experience financial and personal hardships, including:

• Lost wages and financial strain: Unpaid overtime, missed breaks and off-the-clock work can add up over time, leaving workers without compensation they earned.
• Loss of personal time: Employees may spend additional hours working, remaining on call or completing unpaid job duties, taking time away from family, friends and hobbies.
• Workplace stress and burnout: Ongoing wage and hour issues can put added pressure on employees, potentially contributing to exhaustion, stress and burnout.

Employees who were not properly paid for all hours worked may be able to pursue back pay and other compensation through a California unpaid wages lawsuit.

California minimum wage and off-the-clock work

As of Jan. 1, 2026, California employers must pay at least $16.90 per hour, and tips generally cannot count toward minimum wage requirements. Some cities, counties and industries have a higher minimum wage.

Employees may also be entitled to receive pay for work performed before or after scheduled shifts. Off-the-clock work can include:

• Undergoing security screenings after clocking out
• Putting on the required safety gear before shifts
• Completing health screenings before work
• Waiting in security or clock-in lines
• Responding to work-related calls, texts or messages outside paid hours
• Cleaning, closing duties or setting alarms after clocking out

If employees were required to perform unpaid work-related tasks outside their scheduled shifts, they may be eligible to seek unpaid wages or back pay.

Understanding California overtime laws

Under California overtime laws, employees are entitled to overtime pay when they work long shifts or excessive weekly hours. In many cases, employers must provide:

• Time-and-a-half pay after 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek 
• Double-time pay after 12 hours in a workday
• Overtime pay for the first 8 hours worked on a seventh consecutive workday

Some workers may also experience overtime violations if bonuses, commissions or shift differentials were not properly included in overtime calculations.

Improper time rounding or altered time records may also contribute to unpaid wage claims.

Meal and rest break rights in California

California workers are generally entitled to meal and rest breaks during their shifts, including:

• A 30-minute meal break after 5 hours of work 
• A second break after 10 or more hours of work
• A paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours worked 

Break violations may occur when employers:

• Require employees to remain on call during breaks 
• Require workers to respond to calls or texts during breaks 
• Interrupt or shorten breaks
• Require workers to stay on site
• Automatically deduct meal breaks that were never taken

Employees who missed legally required breaks may qualify for additional compensation or premium pay.

California expense reimbursement protections

California employers may be required to reimburse employees for necessary work-related expenses, including:

• Mileage and travel between job sites
• Work-related cell phone use
• Required uniforms, tools or equipment

If your employer required you to pay out of pocket for these or similar expenses, you may qualify to pursue compensation.

Misclassified employees

Some California workers may have been improperly classified as independent contractors or exempt/salaried employees. Misclassification can affect whether workers receive overtime pay, meal breaks, minimum wage protections and reimbursement for work expenses.

Can out-of-state workers qualify?

Workers who do not currently live in California may still qualify if they performed work in the state. This may include truck drivers, delivery workers and other employees who traveled into California as part of their jobs.

Whether California employment law applies can depend on where the work was performed and the circumstances of the employment. Workers who performed work in California and experienced potential pay violations can complete the form to find out whether they may qualify.

How much can I recover in a California unpaid wages lawsuit?

There is no guaranteed recovery amount. Potential compensation depends on factors such as the worker’s pay rate, hours worked, how long the violations continued and the type of wage violation involved.

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include unpaid regular wages, unpaid overtime, double-time pay, compensation for missed meal or rest breaks, reimbursement for work expenses, penalties and interest. An attorney can review your work and pay history to determine what compensation you may be able to pursue.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.