Wage & Hour



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Get Answers to Our Firm's Most Frequently Asked Questions

Wage & Hour Lawyers in Agoura Hills & Westlake Village

Helping You Fight for the Pay You Earned

Labor laws at the federal and state levels protect workers’ rights, ensuring they are paid a fair wage for all hours worked and that they are able to work in a safe environment.

A wage and hour attorney can help you navigate wage and hour disputes and seek compensation for unpaid wages. If you are experiencing discrimination in the workplace, employee misclassification, violation of employee break laws, or any other type of wage and hour issue, you may have legal options.

Common Violations of Wage Theft & Hour Laws

  • Off-the-Clock Work
  • Minimum Wage Violations
  • Missed Meals and Breaks
  • Tip Pooling
  • Employment Discrimination
  • Unpaid Wages
  • Unpaid Overtime
  • Misclassification
  • Donning and Doffing



If you believe you have experienced any of the following labor law violations, you may have a legal claim:

Filing a wage and hour claim with the Labor Commissioner's Office is crucial to address wage and hour violations and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

By filing a wage and hour lawsuit, you may be able to seek compensation for the wages you were entitled to receive according to state labor laws.

Understanding California’s Wage & Hour Laws

Under California law, employers are required to pay overtime to non-exempt employees who work more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours in a week. The rate of pay for overtime work is 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate.

Unpaid Overtime Pay in California

Off-the-Clock Work - Unpaid Wages

It is crucial for employees to receive proper overtime pay to ensure fair compensation for their work. Common issues related to unpaid overtime wages include employers failing to pay the correct rate or not paying for all hours worked.

The employer must also pay the overtime rate for the first eight hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek and double the employee’s wages for all hours of work after the eighth hour. If an employee works more than 12 hours in a day, the employer must pay double the employee’s wages for all hours worked in excess of 12 hours.

Employers are required to pay employees for all hours worked. Therefore, an employer cannot allow workers to do off-the-clock work without pay.

Off-the-clock work can be a form of wage theft, which includes various violations such as underpayment or nonpayment of wages, and can lead to serious legal repercussions for employers.

Employers are required to pay employees for:

  • Pre-shift duties
  • Post-shift duties
  • Time spent waiting for work

California Break Laws

California requires employers to provide non-exempt employees with a 30-minute lunch break if they work five or more hours in a workday. This meal break must be taken within the first five hours of that workday. If an employee works more than 10 hours, they must be given two 30-minute meal breaks.

California's break laws are part of the broader wage and hour law designed to protect employees. These laws ensure fair treatment by mandating minimum wage, overtime pay, rest breaks, and meal breaks, thereby providing protection against wage theft and other violations of employee rights.

California labor law also provides for rest breaks for employees working at least three and a half hours per day. These employees must receive a 10-minute break for every four hours worked.

During these breaks, the employee should be relieved of all job duties. Employees cannot continue working or remain "on-call" during their meal or rest breaks.

There are limited exceptions to the break requirement. Employees who are exempt from California meal and rest breaks include:

  • Workers meeting all requirements of white-collar exempt employees
  • Independent contractors
  • Unionized employees with specific agreements on meal breaks

Minimum Wage in California

California minimum wage law as of 2021 requires employees to be paid a minimum of $14 per hour for employers with 26 or more employees, and $13 per hour for employers with fewer than 26 employees. The minimum wage in California is set to increase yearly and will reach $15 for all employees by 2023.

Failure to comply with minimum wage laws constitutes a wage and hour violation, which can include unpaid wages for training & meetings, unpaid overtime, and wage theft.

California Employee Misclassification

Some employers misclassify employees as independent contractors, a class of workers with fewer protections than employees. Unlike employees, independent contractors are not subject to California overtime and minimum wage protection laws. Employers are prohibited under California labor laws from willfully misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor.

Misclassification can lead to wage and hour disputes, as employees may be denied proper compensation, minimum wage, overtime pay, rest breaks, and meal breaks. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensure legal protections for workers and to avoid potential consequences for employers violating wage and hour laws.

Wage Discrimination - Wage Hour Claim

Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based on gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, national origin, religion, and other protected characteristics. Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, such as disparate treatment, harassment, or a hostile work environment. An employee who wins a workplace discrimination lawsuit may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, attorneys’ fees, and other litigation costs.

Wage discrimination is also addressed under California's wage and hour laws, which provide protections and legal recourse for employees facing wage and hour violations, including non-compliance with wage regulations.

Pay for Donning and Doffing

For most jobs, employees can dress at home before coming to work. Other jobs require employees to wear certain work gear that can take time to put on and take off, adding extra time to their workday. Whether an employer is required to pay for donning and doffing depends on several factors, including cases in which the employee must put on work gear while on the premises.

For a free consultation, reach out to us online or by calling (866) 881-0403.

A wage and hour attorney can help employees understand their rights regarding pay for donning and doffing, ensuring they are compensated for all hours worked.

Contact a Wage & Hour Lawyer in Agoura Hills & Westlake Village

Employment law can be complex and difficult to navigate without the help of a lawyer. If you believe your employment rights have been violated and are thinking about taking legal action against your employer, contact Bradley/Grombacher to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Legal representation for wage and hour issues in Los Angeles is available, and it is important to consult a Los Angeles wage and hour lawyer. They can assist with recovering unpaid wages and handling wage and hour claims and disputes.

A lawyer from our office will discuss your situation and help you determine if you have a legal claim. Filing a wage and hour lawsuit or employment class action lawsuit will allow you to pursue compensation for lost wages, unpaid overtime, and any other losses you experienced because of your employer’s labor law violations.

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By Grombacher April 20, 2026
Trajector Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Deceptive and Abusive Practices Toward Nation’s Disabled Veterans Los Angeles, CA – April 15, 2026 - Bradley Grombacher filed a nationwide class action lawsuit in Federal court alleging Trajector, Inc. and Trajector Medical, LLC engaged in a widespread scheme to unlawfully charge disabled veterans for assistance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims. According to the complaint, federal law strictly regulates who may assist veterans with preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA disability claims. Only VA-accredited attorneys, agents, or representatives may provide such services for compensation, and no fees may be charged for assistance with an initial claim. The class action lawsuit alleges that the defendants ignored these requirements entirely, operating without accreditation while charging veterans thousands of dollars, often between $4,500 and $20,000, for services that were either prohibited or required to be free. “Our nation owes its freedom to those brave enough to serve, and Trajector took advantage of these people, violated the law, and continues to prey upon new victims daily,” said attorney Kiley Grombacher of Bradley Grombacher. The complaint further alleges that the defendants’ business model relied on deceptive marketing and misleading contracts that obscured the true nature of their services and fees. Veterans were led to believe they were receiving legitimate assistance designed to maximize their disability ratings. In reality, the plaintiffs claim the Trajector performed tasks that constitute regulated “representation,” including gathering medical records, completing forms, and advising on claim strategy, and all without legal authority. A central component of the alleged scheme involved the use of an automated system known as “CallBot,” which accessed VA systems using veterans’ personal information to monitor changes in their disability benefits. Once a benefit increase was detected, the Trajector issued invoices calculated as a multiple, often five times, of the veteran’s monthly benefit, regardless of whether the company contributed to the outcome. The plaintiffs also allege that the defendants employed aggressive and abusive collection tactics, including repeated phone calls, threats of legal action, and persistent demands for payment, even when the charges were disputed. These practices, the complaint asserts, caused significant financial harm and emotional distress, particularly given the vulnerability of disabled veterans. The case is Gilbert Quijada, Jr. v. Trajector, Inc., USDC Central District of California – Western Division, Case No. 2:26-cv-03792.
By Grombacher April 20, 2026
Bradley/Grombacher Partner Kiley Grombacher Named to Daily Journal’s 2026 List of Leading Commercial Litigators Westlake Village, California – The Daily Journal named Bradley/Grombacher partner Kiley Grombacher to its 2026 list of Leading Commercial Litigators, recognizing her leadership in high-stakes class actions and mass tort litigation and her work holding corporations accountable in complex consumer, workplace, and product safety cases. Grombacher has built her practice around representing individuals harmed by corporate misconduct, with a focus on nationwide class actions, multidistrict litigation, and cases involving toxic exposure, defective products, and workplace rights. She regularly takes on well-funded defendants in cases that turn on scientific evidence, internal corporate records, and regulatory history. “I’ve always been driven by the simple goal to hold powerful institutions accountable and give people a meaningful path to justice,” Grombacher said. “This recognition reflects the work our team puts in every day to take on complex cases that can create real change.” Among her most notable matters, Grombacher served as lead counsel in nationwide litigation involving Neutrogena aerosol sunscreen products found to contain benzene, a known carcinogen. The case resulted in a class settlement that provided compensation and product vouchers to consumers while drawing national attention to product safety and labeling practices. She also holds a leadership role in ongoing multidistrict litigation challenging the marketing of over-the-counter medications containing phenylephrine. Plaintiffs allege manufacturers promoted the ingredient as an effective nasal decongestant despite longstanding evidence that it is ineffective when taken orally. In addition to consumer cases, Grombacher represents workers in high-impact litigation involving environmental and workplace exposure. She currently advocates for individuals who allege they suffered harm after exposure to hazardous substances, including lead and asbestos, at the Goodfellow Federal Complex in St. Louis. The Daily Journal’s annual list highlights attorneys who lead complex commercial litigation matters across the country, often involving cutting-edge legal theories, extensive evidentiary records, and significant public impact. Grombacher said her work reflects broader shifts across the legal landscape. “We’re seeing increased scrutiny of product safety, corporate transparency, and workplace conditions,” she said. “Litigation plays a critical role in setting standards that protect both consumers and employees.” Grombacher practices out of Bradley/Grombacher’s Westlake Village office and has spent nearly two decades litigating complex cases nationwide. About Bradley/Grombacher Bradley/Grombacher is a plaintiff-side law firm focused on complex litigation, including class actions, mass torts, consumer protection, and employment matters. The firm represents individuals and groups in high-impact cases against corporations and institutions across the country.
By Grombacher February 20, 2026
California Telehealth Company Facing Class Action Over Alleged Physician Misclassification and Unpaid Wages Westlake Village, California – A new class and collective action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Mochi Medical CA, P.C., Mochi Medical, P.A., and Mochi Health Corp., alleging widespread wage-and-hour violations stemming from the alleged misclassification of healthcare providers as independent contractors. The complaint asserts that the defendants operate a telehealth platform for weight management services and a related professional medical group that provides prescription services based on referrals from that platform. According to the lawsuit, the companies uniformly classified physicians and other healthcare professionals as independent contractors despite exercising significant control over their work. The named plaintiff, Dr. Frank Cioppettini, worked remotely as a licensed physician for the defendants from approximately December 10, 2024, to February 14, 2025. The complaint alleges that during this time, he and similarly situated providers were subject to company-directed policies, scheduling requirements, supervision, and performance evaluation, factors that, under California’s “ABC test,” may indicate employee status rather than independent contractor status.  The lawsuit contends that by misclassifying healthcare providers, the defendants failed to provide key protections guaranteed to employees under California law and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These alleged violations include failure to pay overtime wages, failure to pay all wages owed, failure to provide accurate itemized wage statements, failure to timely pay final wages upon termination, and failure to reimburse necessary business expenses. Specifically, the complaint alleges violations of California Labor Code sections 510 and 1198 for unpaid overtime; failure to pay minimum and all wages; wage statement violations; waiting time penalties; failure to reimburse business expenses; and unfair business practices. According to the complaint, the defendants maintained uniform scheduling and timekeeping practices across states, and the alleged policies were administered from California. The proposed class includes healthcare professionals classified as contractors whose employment relationships were governed by California law within four years prior to the filing of the action. The lawsuit further alleges that hundreds of providers may have been affected. “This action challenges a uniform scheme to misclassify healthcare providers as independent contractors, despite Defendants’ pervasive control over their work and integration of their services into Defendants’ core business. As a result of this misclassification, employees were unlawfully denied overtime, minimum wages, expense reimbursement, accurate wage statements, and timely final pay,” said attorney Marcus Bradley. The case is styled Frank Cioppettini v. Mochi Medical CA, P.C ., et al., Case No. 4:26-cv-01260, USDC Northern District of California.
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