Minimum Wage Violations Attorney

As of 2025, California's statewide minimum wage is $16.50 per hour for all employers. Many cities and counties have higher local minimums — for example, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other major cities often set rates above the state level. California does not allow a tip credit, meaning tipped workers must receive the full minimum wage before tips.

New York's minimum wage varies by region. New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County generally have the highest rates. Upstate New York has a lower rate that increases annually. New York allows a limited tip credit for certain tipped workers in the hospitality industry, but the combined cash wage plus tips must meet or exceed minimum wage.

In California, employers generally cannot make deductions that reduce pay below minimum wage, except for legally required deductions (taxes, court-ordered garnishments). Under New York Labor Law § 193, wage deductions are strictly limited. Deductions for uniforms, tools, cash register shortages, or damaged merchandise are generally prohibited if they bring pay below minimum wage.

You can recover the difference between what you were paid and minimum wage for all affected pay periods, plus liquidated damages (equal to the unpaid wages in NY, up to 25% in CA under PAGA), interest, attorneys' fees, and waiting time penalties in California (up to 30 days of pay under Lab. Code § 203). Class action lawsuits are common for systemic violations.