Is wage theft a crime in California?

Wage theft occurs when employers fail to pay employees the wages they are owed. While it is a labor law violation, wage theft is widespread in California and viewed as a serious crime against employees. Unlawfully denying a worker’s rightful wages is likely to boost a company’s profitability while creating financial difficulties for the worker.

Employers can commit wage theft in many different ways. They may withhold overtime, pay below minimum wage, deny meal or rest breaks, require unpaid off-the-clock work, refuse to reimburse business expenses, or take employees’ tips. Companies often use tactics to try to hide wage theft, such as by threatening to fire a worker in retaliation for asking about their overtime pay.

The first step in fighting wage theft is to know your rights as an employee. If you think your employer has committed wage theft, talk to a California employment law attorney. Erlich Law Firm can help you determine whether you have a valid claim against your employer.

Other Unpaid Wage & Overtime FAQs:

• Am I entitled to rest breaks?
• Are employers required to pay mileage reimbursements?
• Are employers required to reimburse employees for work expenses?
• Can my employer fire me for complaining about unpaid wages?
• Does my employer have to give me meal breaks?
• How long do I have to file a claim for unpaid overtime?
• How long does a wage claim take in East Bay, California?
• How much do you get paid for overtime in California?
• Is wage theft a crime in California?
• My employer deducted tips from my paycheck. Is this legal?
• My employer is not paying me correctly; what can I do in California?
• Should I be paid for off-the-clock work?
• What should I do if my employer doesn’t pay me the overtime wages I am owed?
• What should I do if my employer is not paying me my wages on time?
• What types of damages can I recover in a claim for unpaid wages?
• When does my employer have to pay me my final wages upon termination or resignation?
• When must commissions be paid in California?
• Why do I need a lawyer for my unpaid wages claim?