• California Overtime Law - Under California labor law, any work beyond 40 hours a week or 8 hours a day is considered overtime for which employees must be paid at least at one and a half times their regular rate of pay. If a California employee works all seven days of the workweek, all work performed on the seventh day is also considered overtime.

• Business Expense Reimbursements - California requires that employers reimburse their employees for required business expenses. Reimbursable expenses may include the costs of uniforms, tools, mileage reimbursements, as well as meals and lodging when travelling for work.

• California Minimum Wage Law - As of January 1, 2008, the California minimum hourly wage is $8.00 an hour. Minimum wage is also set at the national level through federal employment laws (FLSA). When an employee is subject to both state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher minimum wage.

• California WARN Act - The California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) protects workers in the event of a covered mass layoff, plant closing, or relocation by requiring employers to give at least 60 days notice to affected employees.

• Tips & Gratuities - Unlike federal minimum wage law, California does not allow employers of tipped employees to count tips towards the minimum wage requirement. In California employers are generally required to pay their tipped employees at least the California minimum wage.

• Independent Contractor Law - Employers sometimes misclassify workers as "independent contractors" rather than "employees." Incorrect classification can keep workers from getting their full rights and benefits under the law. In California, the law starts with the presumption that the worker is an employee.

• California Exempt Employees - In California, employees are generally entitled to overtime pay and minimum wage unless they specifically exempted (exempt employees). Unfortunately, employees are often misclassified as exempt, which keeps them from getting overtime pay and other benefits.

Think your employer has violated California employment law? Free and confidential consultations are available with a employment attorney by calling (866) 981-4800 or by filling out the form to the right.

Girard Gibbs represents consumers, investors, employees, and businesses in cases involving consumer protection, personal injury, securities, antitrust, employment litigation and arbitration. The firm’s senior partners, Daniel Girard and Eric Gibbs, have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 and Northern California Super Lawyers, and have earned AV-Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing them in the highest class of attorneys for professional ethics and legal skills.