This page explains how California wage claims work. An employee can file with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement instead of suing, and the Labor Commissioner then holds hearings on issues such as unpaid wages, overtime, meal and rest breaks, late final pay, paycheck deductions and unreimbursed expenses. An employee can also request a right-to-sue letter and go straight to superior court. Bailey Law argues that employers should have a lawyer even at the hearing stage, because the penalties for technical violations can be high.
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