Whistleblower & Wage Theft
What exactly is a whistleblower?
Under California laws, a whistleblower is a person —typically an employee— who, after noticing some kind of illegal activity or fraudulent business practice going on in their workplace, decides to put a stop to it by reporting the aforementioned activity to a supervisor, higher-up or by going directly to a government agency or law enforcement official responsible for regulating the specific type of business.
These reported activities can cover several actions or behaviors, from employers violating corporate policy and procedural requirements to illegal transactions or behavior or a threat against public safety, interest, or health, including fraud and safety violations.
Depending on the nature of their discovery and if their claim is successful, whistleblowers may be entitled to awards or monetary compensation. At the Marquez Law Firm, you will find experienced attorneys who are more than ready to handle all the evidence and organizations involved in these kinds of claims. Contact us today.
A law firm that protects your right to fair wages
Employees in California are entitled to certain legal rights that include the right to minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, vacation pay, and other benefits. These laws also ensure that employers properly pay all working hours and associated wages, including sales commissions, bonuses, overtime, and regular compensation.
The denial to properly uphold compensation agreements can be prosecuted under wage theft charges. It can occur when an employer fails to pay at least minimum wage to employees, denies an employee a bonus to which they were entitled (including hours worked off the clock), fails to pay an employee the tips or commissions they earned, or refuses to pay layoff wages to a terminated employee.
A wage dispute attorney might be the key difference when ensuring you get the compensation your work demands. Contact us, and we will make sure that an expert overviews your case.
Wage Theft
Employees in California who are improperly compensated are protected by both federal and state law. Some common employer illegal wage & hour practices include:
- Not paying employees minimum wage
- Failing to provide employees mandatory meal or rest breaks
- Failing to pay employees overtime at the appropriate rate
- Deliberately misclassifying workers as “exempt employees” or “independent contractors” to avoid paying them overtime
Whistleblower Protection
Whistleblower protection laws prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who come forward to report suspected violations of laws, regulations, and public policy. For example, California whistleblower retaliation laws would protect:
- An employee who reports suspected criminal activity by her employer to a government or law enforcement agency
- An employee who reports a suspected violation of a law or regulation to a supervisor or other person at the employer who has the authority to investigate the violation
- An employee who reports California wage and hour law violations to a supervisor or the Labor Commissioner
