Figuring out your rights at work can be tough, especially when it involves disputes over pay. In Newport Beach, California, workers are protected by a strong set of state and federal laws that guarantee fair wages and treatment. But many employees don’t realize the full range of these protections or how to stand up for them. A Newport Beach Wage and Hour Attorney can explain these rights and fight to get you the money you’re owed.
The Basics of Wage and Hour Laws
Laws about wages and hours set clear rules for how employers must pay their workers, covering things like hours worked, overtime, and breaks. On the federal level, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) lays out requirements for minimum wage, overtime pay, and keeping accurate records. In California, the California Labor Code and rules from the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) go further, offering stronger protections.
For instance, in 2025, California’s minimum wage for companies with 26 or more employees is $16.50 per hour, much higher than the federal $7.25. These laws also require employers to pay 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked over 8 in a day or 40 in a week, and double pay for any hours past 12 in a single day.
Rights You Might Not Know About
Some workplace protections aren’t widely known, but a Newport Beach Wage and Hour Attorney can help you claim them. Here are a few key examples:
- Meal and Rest Breaks
California law says you’re entitled to a 30-minute meal break for any shift over five hours and a 10-minute paid rest break for every four hours worked. If your employer skips or cuts these breaks short, you could be owed extra pay.
At the Law Office of Niko Paris, we help workers get compensation for missed breaks, which employers often neglect to record or allow.
- Overtime and Job Misclassification
Some employers dodge overtime payments by incorrectly labeling workers as exempt. According to California Labor Code Section 510, non-exempt workers must get overtime pay, but jobs like administrative or professional roles are sometimes mislabeled.
A Newport Beach Wage and Hour Attorney can check your job duties to make sure you’re classified correctly and recover any unpaid wages.
- Final Paycheck Rules
Under California Labor Code Sections 201-203, your employer must give you your final paycheck right away if you’re fired, or within 72 hours if you quit. If they’re late, you could be entitled to penalties up to 30 days’ worth of wages. We help workers enforce these rules and hold employers accountable for delays.
- Piece-Rate Pay
If you’re paid per task (piece-rate), California’s Labor Code Section 226.2 says you must also be paid for non-productive time, like rest breaks or waiting periods. This is often ignored in industries like manufacturing or agriculture, and we fight to make sure you’re paid for all your time.
- Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA)
California’s PAGA lets workers sue on behalf of themselves and others for violations of labor laws, acting like private enforcers. This can lead to big penalties for employers, especially in group lawsuits.
How We Can Assist
If you think your workplace rights have been ignored, talking to a Newport Beach Wage and Hour Attorney is a smart move. Call us at (949) 336-8090 for a free consultation to review your situation and defend your rights under California and federal law.