The rules we check

Minimum wage

Every hour you work must pay at least the California minimum wage, even if you are paid by the piece. The rate is the same for all employers across the state, and the rate that counts is the one in effect on the days you worked.

In effect since January 1, 2026

Not covered yet: City or county minimum wages above the state rate are not applied (there are none in the Central Valley counties we list).

Overtime after 8 hours in a day

Farmworkers get 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 8 in a day, and double their regular rate for hours over 12. Your straight pay is already on the stub, so we look for the missing extra part.

1.5 times your regular rate after 8 hours in a day, double after 12 hours.

In effect since January 1, 2025

Not covered yet: Work on a seventh day in a row, split shifts and reporting-time pay are not covered. We do not check the size of the employer.

Overtime after 40 hours in a week

Hours over 40 in a week are also paid at 1.5 times the regular rate. Hours already counted as daily overtime are not counted twice.

1.5 times your regular rate after 40 hours in a week.

In effect since January 1, 2025

Not covered yet: Only the first 8 hours of each day count toward the 40-hour week. We do not check the size of the employer (small employers had a slower start in 2024).

Paid rest breaks for piece-rate work

If you are paid by the piece, your 10-minute rest breaks must be paid separately, at your average hourly rate, on top of your piece pay.

Not covered yet: Rest-break time is not taken out of the hours when we work out your average hourly pay, so the amount is kept on the low side.

Missed meal breaks

If you work more than 5 hours in a day, you must get a 30-minute meal break. For each day a meal break is missed, your employer owes you one extra hour of pay.

Not covered yet: Second meal breaks after 10 hours and agreements to skip a meal break are not covered. "Some days" counts as one missed day.

Missed rest breaks

You must get a paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours you work. For each day the rest breaks are missed, your employer owes you one extra hour of pay.

Not covered yet: "Some days" counts as one missed day, so you may be owed more than we show.

Hours worked that are not on the stub

Every hour you work must be paid. If you tell us you worked more hours than the stub shows, the missing hours are owed at your regular rate, and never less than the minimum wage. For piece-rate work, time that piece pay does not cover must be paid at least at the minimum wage.

Not covered yet: Differences of less than 15 minutes are ignored.

Pay stub adds up

A pay stub must be accurate. Hours times rate, plus overtime, minus deductions, should match the gross and net pay shown. We point out differences of more than $1.

Not covered yet: Differences of less than $1.00 are ignored, and only amounts you were underpaid count as owed.

Pay stub has all required information

A pay stub must show the employer's name, the pay period dates, total hours, your pay rates, gross pay, deductions and net pay. We list what is missing so you can ask your employer for a complete stub.

Not covered yet: The penalty for an incomplete stub (§ 226(e)) is not calculated, so this check adds $0. Your name on the stub is not checked.