How a Los Angeles Wage and Hour Attorney Helps Your Claim
The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) is responsible for vigorously enforcing minimum wage and labor standards. This keeps employees working in legally operating workplaces, and prevents employers from gaining an edge over the competition at the expense of their workers. However, the DLSE does not give you the attention and responsiveness that a Los Angeles wage attorney from Felahy Law Group offers.
In the course of its duties, the DLSE investigates, hears claims, and settles the following employee issues:
- Wage-related disputes, including unpaid wages, late wages, garnishment issues
- Workplace discrimination
- Public works complaints
- Labor law violations
The DLSE also provides employees with forms about identifying these matters. Despite this general assistance, it rarely has the resources necessary to offer personalized explanations and does not offer representation in any conferences or hearings—both of which it uses to resolve employee/employer disputes.
While conferences are discussions between the parties where no one is under oath, hearings are formal procedures that occur when a conference does not or cannot offer a solution. Hearings involve collecting evidence, questioning witnesses, and presenting a solid case for unpaid wages. You may have to appeal a DLSE ruling in civil court if you cannot explain and support your claim—which lengthens the amount of time you must wait to be paid for the work you performed.
One way to avoid this and other hardships is to hire a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer to help you by:
- Providing advice on potential wage claims
- Filing claim paperwork
- Representing you in conferences
- Representing you in hearings
- Filing a civil lawsuit
The Time Period for Filing a Los Angeles Wage and Hour Lawsuit
California law states that you cannot seek compensation for withheld wages in court or before the DLSE once the deadline for filing a claim passes. Depending on the nature of your contract, you have:
- Two years to file a claim based on an oral agreement
- Four years to file a claim based on a written agreement
- Three years to file a claim for minimum wage, unpaid overtime, and other matters
With advice based on years of experience, the wage and hour attorneys at Felahy Law Group in Los Angeles recommend employees file a claim as soon as possible after non-payment of any wages. The memories of witnesses will be clear and the evidence readily available if you file a claim quickly.
Seek Experienced Legal Counsel
Even with readily available information from the DLSE, understanding wage and hour laws is not an easy task. For a wage and hour lawyer in Los Angeles dedicated to keeping you informed, discuss your claim with the attorneys at Felahy Law Group. The firm has been representing employees in arbitration, mediation, and lawsuits since 1998.
Contact Felahy Law Group online to schedule a free consultation with one of our employment attorneys in Long Beach. For your convenience, we offer services in both English and Spanish.
