Wage theft is the most common form of theft in California — and it disproportionately affects Hispanic workers, immigrants, and those working in low-wage industries. No matter how much was stolen from you — $500 or $50,000 — you have the legal right to recover it. And Liberation Law Group is here to help you do exactly that.
My name is Arlo Uriarte, employment attorney at Liberation Law Group. We have recovered millions of dollars in stolen wages for workers throughout Northern California. Call 1-888-442-2642 or request your free consultation here. 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Why Fighting Wage Claims Matters
Wage theft in California is not a marginal problem — studies from the California Department of Labor show that low-income workers in the state lose hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen wages every year. And the wage theft problem is particularly insidious because victims frequently do not know they are victims — they simply assume this is how the rules work.
When a company steals wages from its employees, it is fundamentally distorting fair competition. Companies that comply with the law and pay correctly have higher costs than those that steal from their workers. That is why California’s laws include a penalty system designed not only to compensate individual workers but to make wage theft economically unprofitable for employers.
Fighting your wage claim does not just help you — it helps establish the right standard in your industry and protects the workers who will come after you.
The Most Common Forms of Wage Theft We See
Restaurants and hospitality (Mission District, North Beach, Napa Valley, Sonoma County): Tip theft by managers, unpaid overtime during peak season, denied rest breaks during long shifts, and illegal tip-sharing with employees who are not entitled to tips (such as managers). Learn about wage theft in San Francisco.
Agriculture (Salinas Valley, Watsonville, Napa County): Massive unpaid overtime during harvest season, failure to provide water and shade in violation of Cal/OSHA regulations, and misclassification of farmworkers through labor companies. Learn about workers’ rights in Monterey County and Watsonville.
Construction (SOMA, Mission Bay, Solano County, Sonoma County): Failure to pay prevailing wages on public projects, misclassification as independent contractors, and unpaid overtime. Read about construction workers’ rights.
Domestic work and caregiving (Marin County, San Mateo County, Pacific Heights): Illegal flat-rate pay, unpaid on-call overnight hours, and denial of rest days. Learn about domestic workers’ rights.
Retail and services (throughout the region): Illegal hour rounding, off-the-clock work to open or close the store, and illegal wage deductions.
Does your employer owe you wages? Do not wait for the deadline to expire.
Attorney Arlo Uriarte can evaluate your case today — free, in Spanish. 1-888-442-2642 — free consultation here — 24/7.
Why You Need an Attorney for Your Wage Claim
Technically you can file an unpaid wages complaint with the California Labor Commissioner without an attorney. But there are important reasons to have legal representation.
The penalty system is complex: Calculating exactly how much your employer owes you — including all applicable penalties under the Labor Code, the UCL, and PAGA — requires specialized legal knowledge. Without an attorney, you are very likely to underestimate what you are owed.
Employers have attorneys: The moment you file a claim, the employer immediately retains their employment attorneys. Without representation, you are at a disadvantage in every negotiation.
Strategy matters: Is it better to go to the Labor Commissioner, file a civil lawsuit, or initiate a PAGA action? The answer depends on the specific details of your case. An employment attorney can evaluate all the options and choose the one that maximizes your recovery.
Arbitration agreements can complicate the process: If you signed an arbitration agreement, you need an attorney to evaluate whether it is valid and what your options are. Read about employment arbitration agreements.
The Process of Recovering Your Wages with Liberation Law Group
Free consultation: You tell us your story, we evaluate your case, and we explain exactly what you can claim and what it may be worth. No cost, no commitment.
Investigation: We gather evidence — request payroll records, identify witnesses, and build your case file.
Strategy: We decide the best legal path — Labor Commissioner, civil lawsuit, PAGA, or class action — based on the details of your case. Read about class action lawsuits.
Negotiation or litigation: Most cases resolve in negotiation. If the employer does not offer fair compensation, we take it to court.
Compensation: You receive your money. In successful cases, the employer pays your attorney’s fees — so in many cases we win, you owe nothing out of pocket.
Ready to recover what is yours?
Call 1-888-442-2642 to speak with attorney Arlo Uriarte. Free consultation in Spanish — no obligation — no fee unless we win — 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions — Legal Help for Wage Theft in California
Is it true that I pay nothing upfront for representation?
Correct. Liberation Law Group works on contingency — you pay absolutely nothing upfront. The initial consultation is completely free. We only collect fees if we win your case or reach a settlement. If we recover nothing for you, you owe us nothing. Additionally, in most successful employment cases in California, the employer is required to pay the worker’s attorney’s fees — meaning the employer frequently pays our fees, not you. Call 1-888-442-2642.
What is better: filing with the Labor Commissioner or suing directly in court?
It depends on the details of your case. The Labor Commissioner is free and can be faster for straightforward unpaid wage cases. But it has limitations — it cannot award all the types of damages available in a civil lawsuit, and the process can be slower than it appears. A civil lawsuit can be more effective for complex cases, cases with multiple types of violations, or cases where the employer has a history of non-cooperation. A PAGA action may be the best option when multiple workers were affected. An attorney can help you choose the right strategy. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Can my employer fire me for claiming my wages?
No. Retaliation is illegal. If your employer takes any negative action — termination, reduced hours, punitive shift changes, or anything else — because you claimed your wages, that is illegal retaliation that creates an additional significant claim. In many cases, this additional retaliation claim can be worth more than the original wage claim. Read about your rights against workplace retaliation.
What if my employer says they have no money to pay me?
Your claim does not depend on your employer’s current solvency. If the employer has assets — property, bank accounts, equipment — those can be used to satisfy a judgment in your favor. Additionally, in some cases individual business owners can be held personally liable for wage violations. And if the employer carries employment liability insurance, that policy may cover your claim. An employment attorney can identify all possible sources of compensation for your specific case. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Can I claim wages from an employer that already closed?
Yes, though it can be more complex. If the business closed but the employer has personal assets, you can pursue a claim against those assets. If the business was sold or transferred, the new owner may have liability under California’s business succession doctrine. If the employer is in bankruptcy, you can file a worker’s claim in the bankruptcy proceeding — worker claims have priority over many other creditors. Do not assume you cannot recover because the business closed — call 1-888-442-2642 to evaluate your options.
How long does a wage theft case take to resolve?
It depends on the complexity of the case and whether the employer chooses to cooperate or litigate. Simple cases filed with the Labor Commissioner can resolve in 3–6 months. Civil wage theft lawsuits with employer cooperation can resolve in negotiation in 6–12 months. Cases that go to trial before the Superior Court in San Francisco can take 1–3 years. PAGA actions fall somewhere in between. We always pursue the fastest resolution that maximizes your compensation.
Can undocumented workers claim stolen wages?
Yes. California Government Code § 7285 guarantees that all workers — regardless of immigration status — have full access to all of the state’s employment protections and remedies. Your immigration status is completely irrelevant to your wage claim. If your employer threatens you with immigration enforcement to keep you silent, that is an additional violation under Labor Code Section 1019. Read about the rights of undocumented workers.
Does Liberation Law Group handle wage claims throughout the region?
Yes. We represent workers in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sonoma County, Napa County, Watsonville, San Mateo County, and throughout the region. Call 1-888-442-2642 — available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Your Wages Are Your Life — Fight for Them
The money that was stolen from you is not an abstract number — it is time from your life that you worked and were never paid for. It is the difference between making rent on time or not, between having savings or not, between a stable future or not. Call 1-888-442-2642 or complete our free form. Attorney Arlo Uriarte is ready — in English or Spanish, at no cost, 24/7.
Liberation Law Group — Employment Attorneys for Workers, 24/7
2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94110
1-888-442-2642
Free Consultation in Spanish — No Obligation — No Fee Unless We Win
