Industry
Hospitality and restaurants in Los Angeles
Restaurant and hotel jobs involve tips, split shifts, and fast schedule changes, which is where wage problems often start. Harassment by managers, coworkers, or customers is also covered by California law.
Common situations
- Unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, or missed meal and rest breaks
- Tip pooling that includes managers or owners
- Harassment by a supervisor, coworker, or guest
- Termination after complaining about pay or scheduling
- Final paycheck not provided at the time required by law
What to document
- Schedules, timecards, and pay stubs
- Tip records and any tip-pool policy
- Names of witnesses and dates of incidents
Not sure which protections may apply?
Answer a few plain-English questions and see which California protections may apply to your situation. It takes about two minutes.
Common questions
What is the deadline to file a wrongful termination claim in California?
It depends on the claim. FEHA discrimination and retaliation claims generally require a Civil Rights Department filing within three years of the act, followed by a lawsuit within one year of the right-to-sue notice. Other claims have their own deadlines. For example, many retaliation complaints to the Labor Commissioner must be filed within one year. Because dates control whether a claim can be brought at all, talk to a lawyer promptly.
California is at-will, so does that mean any firing is legal?
No. At-will means no reason is required, but a firing for an unlawful reason (discrimination, retaliation, protected leave, or refusing to break the law) may still violate California law.
When is my final paycheck due?
If you were fired or laid off, all wages are generally due at the time of termination. If you quit with at least 72 hours' notice, generally on your last day; without notice, generally within 72 hours.
What are waiting-time penalties?
Under Labor Code 203, if an employer willfully fails to pay final wages on time, it may owe a penalty of up to 30 days of your daily wages in addition to the unpaid wages.