What are the rights of employees with respect to unpaid wages?
In California, employees have certain rights with regards to unpaid wages. The state labor law states that employees are entitled to the full amount of all wages they’ve earned – including unpaid wages from the employer. Employees can sue their employer for not paying wages owed and can recover the full amount of their unpaid wages, interest, and other damages. Employees may be able to seek double the amount of their unpaid wages as well – known as liquidated damages. This is typically available to employees who have been unpaid wages for a period of time. California also has a minimum wage law, which sets the amount of minimum wage that an employer must pay per hour. This means that if a person works for an employer, the employer must pay at least the minimum amount of wages required by the law. Employees also have the right to file a claim with the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement if they feel their unpaid wages are not being paid. This is known as wage and hour law violation. If an employee is successful in their claim, they may be able to recover unpaid wages and interest. In addition, California also has certain laws that specifically protect employees from being discriminated against – such as the California Fair Employment and Housing Act – and these laws provide further protection for workers regarding unpaid wages. Overall, employees in California have a number of rights with regards to unpaid wages. They can file a claim, seek double damages, and seek out other forms of protection if they feel they are not getting the full amount of wages they are owed by their employer.
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