Waiting Time Penalties

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In California, employees are entitled to receive their final paycheck promptly upon termination or resignation. California law mandates that terminated employees must be paid on their last day of work, while those who quit must receive their final paycheck within 72 hours of giving notice. These final paychecks must include all wages earned and the cash value of any accrued benefits, including unused vacation time, at the employee’s final rate of pay.

Pursuant to California Labor Code section 204, employers must pay employees twice a month on designated paydays, with some exceptions. Overtime wages must be paid by the second regular payday after the work is performed. All employees must receive written notice of their rate of pay at the start of employment and be informed in writing of any changes within seven (7) days. 

For terminated employees, final paychecks checks should be handed over on the last day of employment. If not provided in person, it must be mailed within 72 hours. This ensures that employees have immediate access to their earned wages upon leaving a job.

Employers who willfully withhold final paychecks face significant penalties. Under California Labor Code section 203, employers are liable for a “waiting time penalty” equal to the employee’s daily wage for each day the paycheck is late, up to a maximum of 30 days. This can result in substantial additional payments for the employee. Additionally, Labor Code section 210 imposes penalties for late regular paychecks: $100 for first-time violations and $200 plus 25% of withheld wages for subsequent or intentional violations. These penalties serve as a strong deterrent against employers delaying wage payments.

If you or someone you know was not timely paid and owed waiting time penalties, contact us immediately.

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Associate

Christine Reyes

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Christine Reyes is an Associate Attorney with PLG. Ms. Reyes represents employees in a wide range of employment matters, including wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. With a strong legal background, Ms. Reyes previously represented plaintiffs in personal and catastrophic injury cases, gaining valuable experience that has shaped her approach in advocating for employees facing workplace injustices.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Reyes worked as a personal injury paralegal and legal assistant, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the litigation process from intake to trial preparation, to resolution. This experience gave Ms. Reyes a unique perspective on case management, strategy, and helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system. Ms. Reyes provides effective, compassionate representation and is committed to fighting for the rights of employees.

Ms. Reyes attended the University of California, Santa Cruz and earned her law degree from Santa Clara University, School of Law. Ms. Reyes is licensed to practice law in all California State Courts and in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California. Ms. Reyes is fluent in Spanish.

Associate

SUSAN HUERTA

La abogada Huerta es abogada litigante en Protección En Acción. Licenciada como abogada desde 2008, tiene más de 16 años de experiencia legal lidiando con litigios laborales altamente complejos, demandas colectivas, y derechos civiles. Sirviendo a clientes en todo California, la abogada Huerta ha logrado un éxito significativo luchando por los derechos de los empleados que han sufrido graves violaciones de sus derechos, incluyendo discriminación, acoso, disputas de salarios y horas, despido injustificado y más. Una abogada altamente compasiva y agradable, la abogada Huerta realmente se preocupa por los problemas que enfrentan sus clientes y se ha ganado la reputación de ser una defensora incansable que persigue agresivamente los resultados más favorables en nombre de sus clientes. También comprende el estrés y la ansiedad que sienten sus clientes con respecto a sus situaciones, y brinda asesoramiento y apoyo dedicados y efectivos con el mayor cuidado y respeto para ayudarlos a obtener la justicia que merecen. Habla español con fluidez y puede comunicarse directamente con muchas personas que pueden tener dificultades para hablar inglés.

En 2020, la abogada Huerta fue seleccionada como Super Lawyers Rising Star. Ella practica en las áreas de Derecho Laboral y de Empleo, incluyendo Demandas Colectivas, Despido Injustificado, Discriminación, Acoso Sexual / Agresión Sexual, Contratación y Supervisión Negligente y Derechos Civiles. La abogada Huerta está autorizada para ejercer la abogacía en California, en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Central y Norte de California y en el Tribunal de Apelaciones de los Estados Unidos para el 9º Circuito.

En su tiempo libre, la abogada Huerta brinda asistencia legal gratuita a mujeres maltratadas y niños inmigrantes no acompañados.

Associate

JEFFREY JIMENEZ

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is a Junior Associate Attorney at Protection in Action. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is dedicated to ensuring that employee rights are protected in the workplace, specifically in collective and representative wage and hour actions. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez has experience in other employment matters, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination cases. Before joining full time, he worked as a paralegal for Proteccion En Acción along with several other public organizations and private law firms in employment law, special education law, and immigration law.

Mr. Jiménez attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and received his PhD from Southwestern School of Law.

General Partner

CARLOS JIMENEZ

Extensive Experience and Knowledge

As a former partner and co-chair of his national class action practice group at a prominent employment defense firm, attorney Carlos Jiménez has extensive experience that he uses to benefit his clients. During his time as an employment defense attorney, Attorney Carlos Jiménez's practice focused on defending employers in California wage and hour class action lawsuits and PAGA matters, and he contributed to superior courts' efforts to streamline case management. class action lawsuit and PAGA. With this unique experience and knowledge, along with his extensive experience in state and federal courts, Attorney Carlos Jiménez is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rights of employees in the workplace.

Attorney Carlos Jiménez attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and received his Professional Doctorate from Loyola Law School. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Mr. Jiménez grew up in a blue-collar family and speaks fluent Spanish. Attorney Carlos Jiménez is admitted to practice law in all California state and federal courts and the California Court of Appeals.

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