Erika Heath

UNLAWFUL PAY PRACTICES

Even in this day and age, many employers try to cut costs by not paying their employees appropriately. California employment laws provide strong protections against these kinds of practices. If you suspect your employer is misclassifying you as an independent contractor, misclassifying you as "exempt" from overtime, not providing proper breaks, not paying you for all your work, or not reimbursing you for work expenses, then you should give our office a call.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to be properly classified as an employee, instead of an independent contractor. Generally, you should be an employee if you are under the employer's control, performing work primarily for that entity, and doing tasks that are within the employer's line of business.

You have the right to be properly classified as "exempt" or "non-exempt" from overtime.

If you are paid by the hour, you should be non-exempt.
Generally, if you are performing exempt tasks only less than half of your working time, then you are non-exempt.
It can sometimes be tricky to decide what tasks are exempt or non-exempt, and often times it depends on your profession. But, generally speaking, exempt tasks often require some sort of skill, management of others, or independent discretion. More information about overtime exemptions is available from the Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE).

They cannot call you repeatedly if they are attempting to annoy or harass you

For the most part, they cannot contact third parties (i.e., your friends and family)

They cannot call your work if they have reason to know your employer does not allow such calls

They must properly identify themselves

They cannot use language that is profane, abusive, or harassing

They cannot inflate balances owed and/or add junk fees to the balance

If they are reporting the debt to the credit bureaus, they must report it accurately

They cannot sue you somewhere other than where you created the contract or where you currently live

You have the right to demand that they cease communications

They cannot publish a list of names of people who owe them money

They cannot communicate by postcard or print language on envelopes suggesting they are collecting debts

They cannot tell you that documents are legal documents if they are not, and vice-versa

They cannot send you a document that appears to be from a court or government agency when it is not

Within 30 days of being initially contacted, you have the right to dispute the debt and request they validate it

ATTORNEY AT LAW

UNLAWFUL PAY PRACTICES

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to be properly classified as an employee, instead of an independent contractor. Generally, you should be an employee if you are under the employer's control, performing work primarily for that entity, and doing tasks that are within the employer's line of business.

You have the right to be properly classified as "exempt" or "non-exempt" from overtime.

If you are paid by the hour, you should be non-exempt.

Generally, if you are performing exempt tasks only less than half of your working time, then you are non-exempt.

They cannot call you repeatedly if they are attempting to annoy or harass you

For the most part, they cannot contact third parties (i.e., your friends and family)

They cannot call your work if they have reason to know your employer does not allow such calls

They must properly identify themselves

They cannot use language that is profane, abusive, or harassing

They cannot inflate balances owed and/or add junk fees to the balance

If they are reporting the debt to the credit bureaus, they must report it accurately

They cannot sue you somewhere other than where you created the contract or where you currently live

You have the right to demand that they cease communications

They cannot publish a list of names of people who owe them money

They cannot communicate by postcard or print language on envelopes suggesting they are collecting debts

They cannot tell you that documents are legal documents if they are not, and vice-versa

They cannot send you a document that appears to be from a court or government agency when it is not

Within 30 days of being initially contacted, you have the right to dispute the debt and request they validate it

UNLAWFUL PAY PRACTICES

YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to be properly classified as an employee, instead of an independent contractor. Generally, you should be an employee if you are under the employer's control, performing work primarily for that entity, and doing tasks that are within the employer's line of business.

​

You have the right to be properly classified as "exempt" or "non-exempt" from overtime.

If you are paid by the hour, you should be non-exempt.

Generally, if you are performing exempt tasks only less than half of your working time, then you are non-exempt.

They cannot call you repeatedly if they are attempting to annoy or harass you

For the most part, they cannot contact third parties (i.e., your friends and family)

​

They cannot call your work if they have reason to know your employer does not allow such calls

They must properly identify themselves

They cannot use language that is profane, abusive, or harassing

They cannot inflate balances owed and/or add junk fees to the balance

If they are reporting the debt to the credit bureaus, they must report it accurately

They cannot sue you somewhere other than where you created the contract or where you currently live

You have the right to demand that they cease communications

They cannot publish a list of names of people who owe them money

They cannot communicate by postcard or print language on envelopes suggesting they are collecting debts

They cannot tell you that documents are legal documents if they are not, and vice-versa

They cannot send you a document that appears to be from a court or government agency when it is not

Within 30 days of being initially contacted, you have the right to dispute the debt and request they validate it