If you work in San Francisco and feel your employment rights are being violated — whether through wage theft, discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or retaliation — you need to know that you have real options and an attorney in your corner. Liberation Law Group has spent more than 15 years fighting for workers in the heart of San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area.
My name is Arlo Uriarte, employment attorney at Liberation Law Group. Our office is at 2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, in the heart of the Mission District. Call 1-888-442-2642 or request your free consultation here. 24/7 in English and Spanish.
Why San Francisco Is a Special City for Workers
San Francisco has some of the strongest employment protections not just in California, but in the entire United States. The city has its own minimum wage — higher than the state rate — its own Fair Scheduling Ordinance that protects restaurant and retail workers, its own City and County Labor Commissioner, and a long tradition of labor activism that has produced local laws that go beyond what California requires.
At the same time, San Francisco has an economy that depends heavily on workers in industries where employment violations are common: restaurants in the Mission District and North Beach, hotels in Union Square, construction in SOMA and Mission Bay, cleaning services in the Financial District, and domestic work in Pacific Heights, Nob Hill, and Sea Cliff. These are Hispanic, Asian, and other immigrant community workers who keep this city running — and who frequently do not know the additional rights that San Francisco guarantees them.
Types of Cases We Handle in San Francisco
Wage Theft and Hour Violations
Wage theft — failing to pay overtime, paying below San Francisco’s minimum wage, stealing tips, denying rest periods — is the most common employment crime in the city. If your employer is not paying you correctly, you have the right to recover up to 4 years of unpaid wages under California’s Unfair Competition Law, plus penalties and interest. Learn more about wage theft in San Francisco and how to recover your full pay. You can also read about how to claim unpaid overtime in California.
Employment Discrimination
San Francisco is a diverse city, but that diversity does not eliminate discrimination. We have represented workers from the Mission District who were discriminated against because of their Latin American origin, employees in Chinatown discriminated against because of their language, restaurant workers in North Beach who were victims of gender discrimination, and many more. Learn more about employment discrimination in San Francisco and every type of discrimination we handle.
Sexual Harassment at Work
Sexual harassment in the workplace is a reality in many San Francisco industries — particularly in restaurants, hotels, and domestic work. California has some of the most protective sexual harassment laws in the country, and the 2022 federal law eliminated the ability to use arbitration agreements to block these cases. If you were a victim of workplace sexual harassment in San Francisco, you have strong legal rights. Read about your rights against workplace sexual harassment.
Wrongful Termination
Many terminations in San Francisco violate the law — whether because they are discriminatory, because they are retaliation for exercising employment rights, or because they were carried out without following the procedures established in the contract. If you were terminated and believe it was unjust, a free evaluation can tell you whether you have a case. Read about wrongful termination in San Francisco.
Workplace Retaliation
If you reported employment violations, filed a harassment complaint, requested medical leave, or exercised any employment right and your employer took negative action against you, that is illegal retaliation. Read about your rights against workplace retaliation.
Did your San Francisco employer violate your rights?
Attorney Arlo Uriarte can evaluate your case today — free, in Spanish, confidential. 1-888-442-2642 — free consultation here — 24/7.
San Francisco Neighborhoods We Serve
Mission District: The heart of San Francisco’s Hispanic community. Restaurants, stores, cleaning services, and construction along Mission Street. Our office is at 2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor.
Chinatown and North Beach: Restaurants, shops, and family businesses where workers are frequently victims of wage theft and illegal working conditions.
SOMA (South of Market): High-density construction projects, tech companies, and warehouses where construction, logistics, and service workers face frequent violations.
Financial District: Cleaning, security, and service workers in downtown skyscrapers — many subcontracted and frequently victims of misclassification.
Excelsior and Sunset: Residential communities with a high concentration of Hispanic workers in domestic services, construction, and local commerce.
Pacific Heights and Nob Hill: Domestic workers and caregivers working in the city’s most exclusive residences — frequently without the benefits and pay they are owed under the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. Read about domestic workers’ rights in California.
Special San Francisco Protections You Should Know About
San Francisco minimum wage: The city updates its minimum wage annually. In 2026, San Francisco’s minimum wage exceeds the state rate — and your employer is required to pay you the higher amount. If you are being paid less, you have a claim.
San Francisco Fair Scheduling Ordinance: This ordinance requires retail and restaurant employers to give employees advance notice of their schedules, offer additional hours to existing employees before hiring new ones, and pay a “predictability premium” if they change a schedule with little notice.
San Francisco Paid Sick Leave Ordinance: San Francisco was one of the first cities to require paid sick days — and offers more days than the state minimum.
Fast food worker wage protections: San Francisco has specific ordinances protecting workers in the fast food industry.
San Francisco’s Court System for Employment Cases
The San Francisco County Superior Court, located at 400 McAllister Street near the Civic Center BART station, is the primary judicial forum for civil employment cases in the city. The California Labor Commissioner has offices in San Francisco and handles administrative wage and hour claims. The California Civil Rights Department also has a San Francisco presence for discrimination cases. We know all of these systems and know how to navigate them in your favor.
Ready to stand up for your rights in San Francisco?
Call 1-888-442-2642 to speak with employment attorney Arlo Uriarte. Free evaluation in Spanish — no obligation — 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions — Employment Attorney in San Francisco
How much does it cost to hire an employment attorney in San Francisco?
Liberation Law Group works on contingency — meaning 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. This model exists so that any worker, regardless of their financial situation, can access quality legal representation. Additionally, in most successful employment cases in California, the employer is required to pay the worker’s attorney’s fees — meaning that in many cases we win, the employer pays our fees, not you. Call 1-888-442-2642.
What types of employment cases does Liberation Law Group handle in San Francisco?
We handle all types of employment law cases: wage theft (including unpaid overtime, stolen tips, insufficient minimum wage), employment discrimination (based on race, gender, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation), workplace sexual harassment and assault, wrongful termination, employment retaliation, misclassification as an independent contractor, and arbitration agreement violations. We also handle class actions and PAGA claims when multiple workers were affected by the same illegal practices of an employer.
Does Liberation Law Group serve workers who do not speak English?
Yes — it is one of the primary reasons we exist. Attorney Arlo Uriarte and our entire legal team are fully bilingual in Spanish and English. When you work with us, there are no third-party translators and no communication barriers — we communicate with you directly in your language. Your story deserves to be told in your own words. Many of our clients are Hispanic workers from the Mission District, Excelsior, and other areas of San Francisco who prefer to handle the entire process in Spanish. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How long do I have to file an employment case in San Francisco?
Deadlines depend on the type of claim: for wage theft, you have 3 years under the Labor Code (4 years under the UCL); for discrimination and harassment under FEHA, you have 3 years; for workers’ compensation, generally 1 year. These deadlines run from the date of each violation. The most costly mistake we see is the worker who waits too long. Every week that passes without action is potentially lost wages you can no longer recover. The consultation with Liberation Law Group is free — call 1-888-442-2642 before your deadlines expire.
What makes San Francisco different in terms of employment protections?
San Francisco has a minimum wage higher than the state rate, the Fair Scheduling Ordinance protecting restaurant and retail workers, more paid sick days than the state minimum, and a tradition of local ordinances that go beyond state law. San Francisco is also a sanctuary city with policies that limit cooperation with ICE, which matters greatly for immigrant workers. The Superior Court at 400 McAllister Street and the city’s Labor Commissioner offices have jurisdiction over all employers operating in San Francisco.
Can I meet in person with the attorney in San Francisco?
Yes. Our office is at 2760 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco — in the heart of the Mission District, accessible from several MUNI lines and a few blocks from the 24th Street BART station. We also conduct consultations by phone and video call for workers who cannot travel. The initial consultation is completely free regardless of the method. Call 1-888-442-2642 to schedule.
Does Liberation Law Group serve areas outside of San Francisco?
Yes. We represent workers throughout the Bay Area and Northern California: Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Sonoma County, Marin County, Napa County, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, San Mateo County, and more. Call 1-888-442-2642.
How long does it take to resolve an employment case in San Francisco?
It depends on the type of case and whether the employer chooses to negotiate or litigate. Simpler wage theft cases can resolve in 3 to 8 months. Discrimination or sexual harassment cases with negotiation can take 6 to 18 months. Cases that go to trial before the Superior Court at 400 McAllister Street can take 2 to 4 years. We always pursue the fastest resolution possible without sacrificing the compensation you deserve. We keep you informed in Spanish at every step of the process. Call 1-888-442-2642.
Your Employment Attorney in San Francisco — Ready to Fight for You
San Francisco is a city that has committed itself to employment justice. The laws are on your side. What you need is someone who knows how to use them to protect you. Call 1-888-442-2642 or request your free consultation. Attorney Arlo Uriarte is ready — in English or Spanish, at no cost, 24/7.
Liberation Law Group — 2760 Mission Street, San Francisco
Employment Attorneys for Workers, 24/7 — In Spanish — No Fee Unless We Win
1-888-442-2642
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