Legal Question in Employment Law in California

What can I do?

I am a 17 year old high school student. When I began working at a jewelry store I was 16. I encountered many things I look back at and know that there must be some laws against it & basically is there anything I can do?

-I worked 7 days a week at times.

-There was no schedule, many times solely a call before the day you work

-No time clock or way of knowing hours unless you wrote them down

-Constantly changing pay day, half the time I didn't even receive a check but cash

-No breaks/lunches were guaranteed..worked 10.5 hour days without a break

-Worked over 7 hours days before school

-Manager deducted hours I worked for miscellaneous reasons

The list goes on. Those are the things that bothered me most, so I turned in my 2 weeks notice and by the 8th day I was told I was no longer needed.

I didn't have a work permit, my boss told me not to get one.

Dumb...I know.

but even if I can't get anything out of everything that I did, is there anyway I can help my other former coworkers in having rights?


Asked on 6/09/07, 1:45 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Re: What can I do?

Yes. You can file an unpaid compensation claim with the Labor Commissioner for all the OT anc benefits you were denied, together with interest and penalties.

Doing so will 'educate' the store for future employees. You can suggest the other employees do the same.

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Answered on 6/11/07, 1:38 pm
Alden Knisbacher knisbacher law offices

Re: What can I do?

You and your fellow employees can sue for many different labor code violations. Labor Code Section 206, Labor Code Section 226, overtime, double time, illegal deductions. . . you can go back 4 years for these violations. We handle cases all over California -- I am in San Francisco, but would associate a lawyer in your area. This website doesn't allow me to list a phone number, so for contact info, pls. respond to my private email -- and feel free to look up my other answers on this board. You can also scan any documents you want into the email. Definitely follow up on this, whether it's with my firm or someone else's -- you have good claims, and should be compensated. Good luck.

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Answered on 6/09/07, 10:12 am


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