| Â | | | | Labor Board also has a serious limitation in that if |
| Many employees when experiencing a labor | | | | either party prevails, the other party has the |
| violation are confused as to where to turn and | | | | option to appeal and have the case start all over. |
| typically take one of four paths. | | | | Once this occurs, and employee will need to find a |
| 1. A very common path and usually the most | | | | California labor law attorney to represent them |
| treacherous, is doing nothing at all. When an | | | | and also faces the risk that if they lose this |
| employee is hesitant to hire California overtime | | | | appeal the loser must pay the winning parties |
| lawyers or California labor law attorneys to handle | | | | attorney fees and court costs. On the other hand, |
| a situation, it usually gets worse before it gets | | | | if an employee hires California overtime lawyers |
| better. Complacency will typically cause labor | | | | to handle the claim from the outset and prevails |
| violations to become more frequent. California | | | | on any part of the claim, the Employer must pay |
| labor law attorneys have found that "where there | | | | the Employee's attorney fees. This is a huge |
| is smoke there is fire" and when one violation is | | | | advantage. As you can see the California Labor |
| discovered, many others are found. | | | | Board has severe limitations and is designed for |
| 2. The next course of action frequently taken by | | | | smaller disputes where the employee does not |
| employees experiencing a California labor law | | | | mind some uncertainty of outcome. While the |
| violation is attempting to handle the problem | | | | California Labor Board is free of charge- |
| "through the Employer's channels or procedures". | | | | sometimes you get what you pay for! |
| This course of action has risks of its own and one | | | | 4. California overtime lawyers and California labor |
| of the biggest dangers in filing a formal Employer | | | | law attorneys may be the best option when it |
| complaint "though the proper channels" is the risk | | | | comes to the enforcement of California labor |
| of retaliation. Employees do not realize that by | | | | laws. When an employee hires an attorney who is |
| filing an official complaint they place their | | | | experienced in California overtime laws, the |
| employers on guard and exposed to liability if the | | | | outcome may be better than testing the waters |
| employer retaliates. Once a complaint is filed for a | | | | at the California Labor Board and surely much |
| labor violation, if the employer then retaliates and | | | | better than doing nothing at all. Case law and |
| demotes, harasses, suspends or fires the | | | | statutes are constantly evolving and |
| employee, that employer exposes themselves to | | | | knowledgeable California overtime lawyers or |
| additional liability. | | | | California labor law attorneys can in many |
| 3. Another option an employee may exercise is | | | | instances pinpoint the applicable laws and cases |
| going to the labor board. The California Labor | | | | that could bring an employee to victory. Even |
| Board does however have limitations, in that they | | | | better, if your attorney wins, your employer |
| will not purse the 4th years (Unfair Business | | | | must pay his or her legal fees! |
| Practice Claim) as a private attorney would and | | | | In closing, an employee has several choices. Hiring |
| therefore they may shorten the amount of their | | | | a qualified professional to protect your interests is |
| claim. Furthermore, the California Labor Board | | | | imperative if you want good results. Interview |
| handles very small claims and may not always | | | | several California labor law attorneys and find out |
| pursue the employee's claims as vigorously as | | | | who you feel most comfortable with. |
| California overtime lawyers might. The California | | | | |