Unpaid Wage Lawyer

Lawyer for unpaid wages often work on a contingency agreement; this means that the lawyer suing for unpaid wage only get a fee if money is recovered for the employee.

Brad Nakase, Attorney

Email  |  Tel (888) 600-8654

Lawyer for Unpaid Wages

Unpaid wage lawyer, Brad Nakase, protects employees from unpaid wages. One of the most frequent employment law issue is unpaid wages. An employee suing for unpaid wages California labor laws has statutory attorney’s fee in favor of the employee. Further, money damages awarded in unpaid wages are the most considerable portion of all employment law claims in California. If you believe you were unpaid for hours, work, not given a break, not given lunch, and not paid for all overtime worked, please contact our unpaid wage lawyer for free legal advice.

Learn more: How long does an employer have to fix a payroll error in California?

If your employer has not paid you the wages you are due, our unpaid wage lawyers are here to help. First, contact your employer about the unpaid wages and give them a chance to make it right. If they have still not paid the wages or resolved your concerns, get in touch with our attorneys to learn what your next steps are. If you’re unable to recover unpaid wages, our California unpaid wage attorneys can help you recover the money from the employer. We have a successful track record with unpaid wages claims and will handle your case for a quick and effective resolution. Our mission is to ensure you have the compensation you are due to support your family.

Since 2006, unpaid wage lawyer, Brad Nakase, has represented hundreds of employees in unpaid wage claims. You are entitled to wages for the work you do for an employer. This money will help you and your family pay your bills. You should not have to fall behind on payments because your employer has not paid you.

Unpaid Wage FAQ

What should I do if I haven’t received a paycheck, including all the hours I worked?

It is essential to make a record of the hours you worked during the pay period. Keep a record of any extra expenses because the paycheck was late. The first step is to bring the unpaid wages to your employer’s attention and give them a chance to rectify the issue. It could have just been due to a clerical error or bank issue. If it were a simple mistake, the bank or your employer would cover the extra costs due to the unpaid wages. If it was intentional, then you will receive compensation for your unpaid wage claim.

What should I do if I haven’t be paid for some of the hours in my recent paycheck?

Immediately keep a copy of the cashed check, your pay stub, and a record of the work hours during that pay period. Talk to your employer about why you were underpaid and give them a chance to fix the error if it was an honest mistake. If it were purposeful, you would be compensated when you file a claim. The federal law requires all workers to be paid for all of the hours they work.

What should I do if my employer’s check bounced?

A bounce check is considered unpaid wage. The law requires your employer have sufficient funds to cover payroll checks. If your wage checks bounce, you should speak to your employer to see if it was an honest mistake. Keep all documentation such as your pay stub, a record of your hours, and documents from your checking account; then contact our unpaid wage lawyer to help you.

My employer is not paying me minimum wage, is there anything I can do?

Your employer must pay you California minimum wage. If you are being paid less than that then you should contact our unpaid wage lawyer to assist you.

Date Minimum Wage for Employers with 25 Employees or Less Minimum Wage for Employers with 26 Employees or More
January 1, 2017 $10.00/hour $10.50/hour
January 1, 2018 $10.50/hour $11.00/hour
January 1, 2019 $11.00/hour $12.00/hour
January 1, 2020 $12.00/hour $13.00/hour
January 1, 2021 $13.00/hour $14.00/hour
January 1, 2022 $14.00/hour $15.00/hour
January 1, 2023 $15.00/hour

My employer is not paying me for the overtime hours I worked, what can I do?

Federal law states that employees must be paid 1.5 times their regular hourly wage for every hour worked over forty hours a week. California law also states that if employees work over twelve hours a day, they are to receive double their regular hourly pay for the extra hours. Some job roles are exempt to overtime laws, so it is worth checking your job does not fall under the exempt list before you seek legal advice.

You are eligible for the extra payment if you work more than eight hours a day or forty hours a week. Your overtime hours should be paid at 1.5 times your usual hourly rate. If you work over twelve hours a day, you should receive double time for those extra hours.

I have not received the bonus I was promised, what can I do?

You cannot seek a federal agency’s advice, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require the payment of bonuses. However, if your bonus was stated in your contract, you are entitled to it and you can take legal action. Make sure you have your bonus in a written letter so you can enforce it.

Speak to your employer first, send them a formal letter regarding the issue. For a small bonus, if the issue is not resolved, take it to small claims court. For a big bonus, if nothing is resolved, seek the help of a lawyer.

The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require the payment of bonuses, so you are unable to speak to report this to a federal agency. However, if the bonus is stipulated in your contract or any other legal document, you can take action. When your employer promises a bonus, ask for it in writing, ideally on an official letter.

I have not been paid the commissions I earned, what should I do?

You cannot seek a federal agency’s advice because the Fair Labor Standards Act does not regulate the payment of commissions. However, if the payment of commissions is in your contract, then you can seek the advice of an attorney for a large amount or go to small claims court for a small amount.

The Fair Labor Standards Act does not regulate the payment of commission, so you cannot report this to a federal agency. However, if the commission earnings are mentioned on your contract, then you have legal rights to those earnings. Employ an attorney for large sums of money or file with a small claims court for small amounts of money.

We Handle Unpaid Overtime and Wages Lawsuit

At Nakase Law Firm, we can handle any California unpaid wage claims. We have dealt with the following kinds of cases:

  • Unpaid overtime wage
  • Unpaid minimum wage
  • Unpaid double-time wage
  • Unpaid commissions wage
  • Unpaid accrued vacation pay wage
  • Denied meal periods (e.g. lunch breaks) wage
  • Unreimbursed uniforms or tools wage
  • Unreimbursed mileage wage
  • Failure to account or pay commissions, shift difference, or bonuses in overtime pay
  • Failure to reimburse employees for business expenses
  • Underpaying wages due to rounding time worked rather than clocked in hours
  • Failure to pay employees for time spent putting on protective gear before clocking in
  • Failure to pay employees for time spent walking to and from workstations at the start and end of their shift
  • Failure to pay wages owed at termination in a timely manner
  • Failure to pay out accrued vacation wages at termination
  • Failure to pay an hourly wage at or above local or state minimum wage
  • Failure to pay minimum wage for non-productive time for employees on commission or piece-rate basis
  • Failure to pay prevailing wages for any work on public work projects


If you believe you have been underpaid or not paid for your work, then you need to seek legal advice from an unpaid wage lawyer. An unpaid wage attorney can put together a strong case with our expertise and resources behind you. It is essential to get legal advice if you have not been paid the wages you are entitled to. Our unpaid wage lawyers will advise and support you throughout the process.

Free Consultation: 888-600-8654

The majority of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, so any interruption in your wages can leave you struggling to pay bills. In some cases, you may even be charged late fees for not paying bills on time. The first step if you have not been paid your wages is to contact your employer and give them the chance to resolve the situation. If they do not do anything, then seek legal advice from an employment lawyer right away.

If you have unpaid wages, you may struggle to keep the roof over your head or your electricity on. More importantly, you deserve to be paid for your hard work and not struggle financially after you have worked hard for your employer. The first step in resolving unpaid wage claims is to contact your boss and bring the mistake to their attention. If they have been unhelpful and have not resolved the issue, you can hire a lawyer to sue for unpaid wages.

Brad Nakase is a lawyer for unpaid wage and skilled in employment law. Brad will help you determine if you have a case or not. We offer free consultations on unpaid wage where we will listen to the facts of your situation and prepare a personalized plan of action to bring about a just result for unpaid wages.

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