how to file a lawsuit no lawyer in california for misclassification 2016

by Ova Dickens 7 min read

How much can you claim for misclassification in California?

Jun 22, 2021 · Employee Misclassification Lawsuit. The first step to filing a Lawsuit is to determine whether you have a case. Most cases filed with the U.S. Department of Labor involve long-term allegations of wage theft or other employment-related offenses. In order to determine whether you have a valid claim for wage theft, it is necessary to conduct ...

What happens if you are misclassified as an independent contractor in California?

California law allows workers who are misclassified as 1099 independent contracts (but should have been treated as W2 employees) to file a wage and hour lawsuit. Damages against the employer can include: unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, unpaid meal and rest breaks, as well as. penalties and interest. In California, the basic definition of ...

What are the damages in a misclassification case?

As with most other states, filing a complaint is the first step to beginning a lawsuit in California. This is the document in which you lay out the allegations against the defendant and allege how you have been harmed. Keep in mind that you do not need to try and prove your allegations in the complaint. You are only alleging what happened.

Can I sue my employer for misclassifying me as exempt?

As of January 1, 2022 the minimum annual salary to qualify for an exempt employee would be $62,400 (Double the state minimum wage $15.00/hour for employers with 26 or more employees is $30.00/hour x 40 hours/week x 52 weeks = $62,400). For employers with 25 or fewer employees, the minimum annual salary would be $58,240.

What is the difference between an independent contractor and an employee in California?

The traditional definition of an independent contractor in California labor law is someone who performs services for another, where both of the fol...

What if I signed an agreement stating that I am an independent contractor?

California courts will not assume you are an independent contractor just because you signed an agreement stating that you were.

What should I do if my employer has been wrongly classifying me as an independent contractor to avoi...

If you believe that a person hiring you to perform services has been wrongly classifying you as an independent contractor, then California law prov...

What damages are available if I file a lawsuit?

Willful misclassification of an individual as an independent contractor carries a civil penalty of between $5,000 and $25,000 per violation. If an...

How long do I have to file a lawsuit against my employer in California?

The statute of limitations for most California wage and hour lawsuits is three (3) years from the date when the most recent violation has occurred.

What if my employer misclassifies me as an exempt employee in California?

Under California employment law, employees are generally classified as exempt or non-exempt. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime, rest a...

What is the difference between exempt and non-exempt?

The difference between an exempt employee and non-exempt employee is that some employees are not subject to state and federal labor laws, including...

Why would my employer intentionally misclassify me as exempt?

Some employers intentionally misclassify employees as “exempt” in violation of California labor law and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Intent...

What are some signs that an employee is misclassified as exempt?

The requirements for exempt status may be unclear for employees. An employee may be unsure whether they are exempt or non-exempt. There are some in...

Can I be fired for complaining about misclassification?

An employer cannot be fired or retaliated against for reporting labor law violations. Firing an employee for questioning exempt or non-exempt statu...

Is California exempt from overtime?

Under California employment law, employees are generally classified as exempt or non-exempt. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime, rest and meal breaks, and are subject to California’s minimum wage laws. 1. Exempt employees may not be eligible for overtime or breaks.

When will California minimum wage increase?

The salary minimum for exempt workers is based on the current California minimum wage. Each year, on January 1st from 2017 and 2023, the minimum wage is scheduled to increase. This will increase the minimum salary requirement for exempt workers each year until 2023. 7. Non-Exempt Employees.

How many hours can you work overtime in California?

Under California labor laws, non-exempt employees who are not part of an alternative workweek schedule earn overtime if they work more than: eight (8) hours in a single workday, forty (40) hours in a single workweek, or. six (6) days in a single workweek. 8.

What is the minimum wage in California in 2021?

any work in excess of eight (8) hours on the seventh day of a workweek. 9. Minimum Wage Laws. In 2021, the statewide minimum wage in California is $14.00 per hour (or $13.00 per hour for employers with 25 or fewer employees).

Can an exempt employee get overtime?

Exempt employees may not be eligible for overtime or breaks. However, exempt employees must be paid at twice the minimum hourly wage based on a 40-hour workweek. 2. As an exempt employee, an employer could require the employee to work more than 40-hours per week without overtime pay.

How many hours can an exempt employee work?

As an exempt employee, an employer could require the employee to work more than 40-hours per week without overtime pay. An employer would also not have to provide rest breaks and meal breaks to an exempt employee. An employer may intentionally or unintentionally classify a non-exempt employee as an exempt employee.

What is the difference between an exempt employee and a non-exempt employee?

The difference between an exempt employee and non-exempt employee is that some employees are not subject to state and federal labor laws, including overtime , rest breaks, and meal breaks. The largest group of exempt employees includes executive, administrative, and professional employees.

Working for Your Rights

Employees are provided with various wage and hour protections under California law, including meal breaks, rest breaks, minimum wage, and overtime pay. However, some employers willfully or mistakenly misclassify employees as independent contractors.

What is an Independent Contractor?

An independent contractor is a person who is self-employed and contracts with another entity to perform work. In California, there are specific legal criteria that must be met to classify a worker as an independent contractor — regardless of whether a worker signed an independent contractor agreement.

What Rights Should Misclassified Workers Have?

Employees in California are entitled to many legal rights in the workplace. Employers who deliberately misclassify employees as independent contractors may do so in an attempt to avoid paying employment-related taxes — and to bypass the California Labor Code.

Relentless Representation for Independent Contractor Misclassification Lawsuits

You deserve to get paid for the long hours you put in at your job. Unfortunately, if you’re facing misclassification by your employer, you might not be getting all the pay and other benefits guaranteed by law you’ve worked hard to earn.

Contact a Qualified Southern California Employment Law Attorney

Independent contractor misclassification lawsuits can be complicated. A knowledgeable employment law attorney can assist you with recovering the monetary recovery that is rightfully yours.

What is rise virtual solutions?

Arise Virtual Solutions was a company that promised to cut costs for companies like Disney and AirBNB by outsourcing work to workers who took calls from their homes using their own equipment, paid hourly.

Is Uber being litigated?

Uber and Lyft suits are actively being litigated right now in the courts, as drivers fight for minimum wages, benefits, and other rights traditionally given to employees. In California, the Dynamex Operations Suit ended up having large implications for rideshare employees as language specific to certain types of contractors was added to legislation regarding the subject.

How many questions are asked in the economic reality test?

The ‘economic reality’ test contains six questions. We’ll dive into each of them below. Answers fall along a spectrum, with one end signifying a worker is a contractor and the other end meaning that the worker is an employee