Experienced San Mateo Labor Attorneys Ready To Serve You

Attorney Matthew J. Buzzell, III, provides experienced legal representation for employees in San Mateo, CA.

As an employee in San Mateo, you are entitled to certain protections under California and federal law. When your employer violates your rights, you can – and should – take legal action to protect yourself. Whether that means seeking back pay or reinstatement for unlawful termination, or if you seeking damages for non-payment of overtime, your rights and remedies are clear, and your employer cannot legally retaliate against you for asserting your right to fair compensation.

At Buzzell Law Group, PC, we represent employees in San Mateo and throughout Northern California in all labor law matters. If you believe that you are being treated unfairly or otherwise mistreated at work, or if you believe that your employer has violated your rights as a union or non-union employee, it is important that you seek legal representation promptly. Our San Mateo Labor attorneys have extensive experience in all employment and labor law matters, and we can make sure you receive the treatment and compensation you deserve.

Buzzell Law Group, PC is Ready To Fight For You

With our experience on both sides of employment-related legal issues, we are able to skillfully represent employees facing all types of legal issues at work. Led by Matthew J. Buzzell, III, a San Mateo Labor attorney who has been practicing labor law in Northern California for more than 15 years, our legal team routinely handles matters before the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), other state and federal agencies, and the state and federal courts in Northern California.

Do you believe that you are being underpaid? Are you being forced to work unreasonable hours or under hostile or unsafe working conditions? Has your employer violated your right to take family or medical leave? We help employees in San Mateo stand up for themselves in cases involving:

  • Family and medical leave issues
  • Illegal deductions
  • Migrant workers’ rights
  • Minimum wage
  • Overtime pay
  • Recordkeeping issues
  • Rest and meal breaks
  • Sick leave
  • Unsafe and hostile work environments
  • Wrongful termination
  • Other wage and hour issues

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs): Employees’ Labor Law Rights in San Mateo

Q: What is the minimum wage in California?

While the federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, California has adopted a higher minimum wage for employees working within the state’s borders. As of January 1, 2018, California’s minimum wage is:

  • $11.00 per hour for individuals working at businesses with 26 or more employees
  • $10.50 per hour for individuals working at businesses with 25 or fewer employees

These minimums are set to increase each year through 2023.

Q: What can I do if I haven’t been paid or if I have been underpaid by my employer?

If you have not received full compensation for the hours you have spent at work, enforcing your rights typically starts with filing a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. While you have the option to file a claim on your own, due to the fact that there are strict rules and procedures you need to follow and the fact that you may have additional rights outside of the wage claim process, it is strongly in your best interests to hire an experienced San Mateo labor lawyer.

Q: How long do I have to seek payment of unpaid wages?

Under California law, the amount of time you have to file a claim depends on the specific violation your employer has committed. For example, with regard to wage claims under state law, employees in San Mateo have:

  • Two years to enforce an oral promise to pay more than minimum wage
  • Three years to enforce their right to California’s minimum wage, overtime, or sick leave
  • Four years to enforce a written employment contract

However, if you have a claim under federal law (e.g., under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)), different timelines will apply.

Q: Can I be fired for filing a claim for unpaid wages?

No. State and federal laws prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who assert their legal rights. This includes terminating employees who file claims for unpaid wages. Other forms of adverse employment action (including demotion, assignment to undesirable shifts or job sites, and pay deductions) can support claims for unlawful retaliation as well.

Speak with an Experienced Labor Law Lawyer in Confidence

If you would like more information about your rights as an employee in San Mateo, please contact us to schedule an initial consultation. To speak with one of our experienced San Mateo labor lawyers in confidence, call (415) 552-5582 or request an appointment online today.