What you need to prove wage theft in California

Employees are legally entitled to proper wages for all of their hours worked. However, many employees are not paid what they’re owed. Employees may steal their employees’ wages by underpaying overtime, lowering minimum wage or asking for extra off-the-clock hours, for example.

Recovering your lost wages can take time. However, taking legal steps can help prevent future wages from being stolen. If you are planning to take action against an employer because of their illegal actions, it’s important to come prepared. There are a examples of documents and other information that can help you seek the compensation you deserve.

Pay stubs

One of the key documents to prove that your wages were stolen from you is your pay stubs. Your pay stubs show how much you were paid for each pay period.

Timesheets

Another document to have with your pay stubs if you’re an hourly employee is your timesheets. Your timesheets should show all of your hours you worked, including any overtime hours. If your paystubs do not match your timesheets, it could provide concrete evidence that you were not correctly paid for your hours worked.

Employer policies

Your employer may have policies that regulate your overtime and off-the-clock work. An employee handbook, emails clarifying or other documentation of these policies could be used as evidence to show that your employer did not fulfill their obligations.

Co-worker testimonies

A co-worker may have witnessed you working overtime or off the clock. Their testimony could help prove that you did work the hours you submitted for which you weren’t paid. Furthermore, you may not be the only employee who has faced wage theft. A co-worker’s testimony stating that their wages were stolen too could help your case.

If you aren’t able to resolve the matter with your employer, it’s wise to seek experienced legal guidance to determine whether you have a wage theft case so that you can seek justice and compensation.