Wage And Hour Violations Proudly Serving All of California

Wage & Hour Violations Attorney in Sacramento

Helping Clients Get Paid for What They’re Owed

Wage and hour laws exist at the state and federal level to ensure that people are properly and fairly compensated for their labor. Despite these protections, unscrupulous employers engage in shady wage practices to cut down on costs and hope their employees will be none the wiser. If you think your employer has ever shortchanged you or failed to pay you at all, seek legal assistance to recover what you’re owed.

The Law Office of Jeffrey D. Fulton has more than 20 years of experience helping employees recover unpaid wages they were rightfully owed. Employers that paid employees anything less than what they earned can be held liable for wage theft, and employees can seek fair and just compensation for this treatment. Rest assured that when you choose our wage and hour violations attorney in Sacramento to represent your side in a dispute, we’ll aggressively pursue your employer for payment of wages plus any other applicable monetary damages.

Schedule a free case evaluation with the Law Office of Jeffrey D. Fulton today by calling (916) 318-3388 or by filling out our online contact form.

What Is Wage Theft?

Wage theft and violations of wage and hours laws are one and the same. When your employer takes deliberate action to pay you less than what you’re really owed, they have effectively stolen your wages in violation of wage and hour laws.

Overtime Violations

Violations of overtime laws are among the most common claims in this area of employment law. The Fair Labor Standards Act provides that employees not exempted from overtime be paid 1.5 times their standard pay when they work any hour in excess of 40 per workweek. In California, overtime is awarded for any time worked in excess of eight hours per day in a workweek.

Employers may violate overtime laws by paying the employee’s standard rate for all hours or failing to compensate for overtime hours at all. They may also try to skirt overtime laws by misclassifying their employees.

Employee Misclassification

Another common violation, employers misclassify their employees to avoid paying overtime wages and certain kinds of taxes, such as the payroll tax.

Exempt vs. Nonexempt

Typically, wage earners and those who work “on the clock” are considered nonexempt employees because they are not exempted from any overtime laws. When these employees work in excess of eight hours per day in California, they are entitled to overtime pay. This contrasts with exempt employees who aren’t typically paid overtime because they’re already highly compensated managers, executives, and professionals who spend most of their time exercising independent judgment and making important decisions for the company.

Employers like to elevate the job descriptions of certain employees to make them seem like exempt positions when, in reality, they are not. If they can get away with it, this means employers save on costs by skirting overtime laws.

Independent Contractors

An independent contractor is someone who is not an employee but works for a company as a consultant. Because these workers are not employees, companies don’t have to pay them overtime wages or even certain taxes. This combination makes purposeful misclassification of employees as independent contractors all the more tantalizing to dishonest employers.

Under California’s ABC test, an independent contractor is a worker who:

  • Is free from the employer’s control and direction with regard to how they perform their work
  • Performs work that is different from what the employer does as a business
  • Is customarily engaging in an independently established trade, occupation, or business that’s similar to the work done for the employer

There have been a lot of recent developments and lawsuits regarding employee misclassification in California, so it’s best to consult with a wage and hour violations lawyer in Sacramento if you believe you were misclassified.

Working off the Clock

Major companies have been hit hard in the past for requiring their employees to perform certain duties and tasks “off the clock.” From the time you enter your workplace to the time you leave, you should be compensated for each second. This includes the time it takes to put on special gear or to close the business for the night.

Illegal Pay Deductions

Generally speaking, pay deductions should be rare. The most common you’ll encounter are those for tax withholding or the employee’s contribution to certain benefits (as long as the employee opted-in to them). Certain professions and industries may have companies making legal deductions for employee housing and utilities, while others that have a cafeteria may charge the employee’s tab against their paycheck.

The above examples are all legal deductions, but the following are not:

  • Tips and other gratuities
  • Business expenses
  • Medical or physical exams
  • Uniforms
  • Bonds

Minimum Wage Violations

Paying employees below the minimum wage is illegal. When an employee’s gross earnings for the hours they worked is less than what they would have earned at the minimum wage rate for the same number of hours, they should consult with a wage and hour violations attorney in Sacramento to discuss their options.

Need Legal Assistance? Contact Us for Help!

If you believe your employer has violated wage and hour laws to avoid paying you what you earned, reach out to the Law Office of Jeffrey D. Fulton for help. We have more than 20 years of experience helping our clients fight for fair and just compensation that includes the recovery of their unpaid earnings.


For a free case evaluation, reach out to us online or call (916) 318-3388.


Aggressive Litigation that Gets Results

Our Victories
  • Case Against Public Employer $500,000 Settlement

    $500,000 settlement and dismissal of adverse action in a case against a public employer.

  • Discrimination Case $1.7 Million Verdict

    Assisted in obtaining a verdict for $1.7 million in an employment discrimination case

  • Reimbursement Case $800,000 Settlement

    $800,000 settlement on behalf of class members in failure to reimburse expenses case.

  • Reimbursement Case $2.5 Million Settlement

    $2.5 million settlement on behalf of class members in failure to reimburse expenses case.

  • Reimbursement Case $600,000 Settlement

    $600,000 settlement on behalf of class members in failure to reimburse expenses case.

  • Sexual Harassment Case Successful Verdict

    Favorable sexual harassment verdict for a low wage fast-food worker.

  • Sexual Harassment Case Successful Settlement

    Significant confidential settlement for a victim of sexual harassment in a healthcare setting.

  • Wage & Reimbursement Case $2.5 Million Settlement

    $2.5 million settlement on behalf of class members in failure to pay wages and reimburse expenses case.

  • Wage Case Successful Verdict

    Favorable verdict on behalf of an employee for failure to pay wages owed.

  • Whistleblower Case $1.5 Million Verdict

    $1.5 million verdict on behalf of whistleblower clients against public entity.

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Clients Tell Their Stories

Testimonials
  • “I understood the law and my rights so that I could go forward without being intimidated. I appreciated the time he took to explain the finer points of employment law to me.”

    - Christine H.
  • “Jeff and his team always made me feel comfortable and well taken care of. He was always honest with me which allowed me to trust him 100% on any decisions we made.”

    - Previous Client
  • “Mr. Fulton was caring and took the time to understand everything about the case. I never felt rushed, he always clarified things for me if I had any questions. The whole process was very nerve-racking, and Jeff was very calming.”

    - Previous Client
  • “Jeff spent a lot of time with me on the phone and in person, making sure that I ALWAYS knew what was going on or what was going to happen with our case. They made sure I understood everything clearly and fought for a fair result in the end.”

    - Beth
  • “Mr. Fulton was personable and communicated in a way that made me feel at ease with the complex and frustrating nature of my particular case every step of the way.”

    - Previous Client
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WHEN YOU NEED A CHAMPION, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU

What You Can Expect With Us
  • Over 20 Years of Legal Experience

    With extensive employment law experience in and out of the courtroom, Mr. Fulton is well-equipped to help you navigate your case.

  • An Aggressive Litigator with a Compassionate Ear

    As an attorney with extensive trial experience, Mr. Fulton will not only listen to your concerns but will also fight for your cause.

  • Free Initial Case Evaluations

    You won't have to pay for the first discussion about your case with our attorney.

  • Affordable Legal Services

    In most cases, you don't pay unless we win. If you just need legal advice, we offer affordable consultations.

COUNT ON US TO TREAT YOU WITH RESPECT AND GO TO WAR FOR YOU

Schedule a free initial case evaluation with Jeffrey D. Fulton today to discuss your case.