Q: My friend is being forced to work overtime by her tyrant of a boss. She can't afford a lawyer what should she do to sue?
Her boss also makes her co-workers work overtime
He refuses to believe her when she confronts him about his unfairness
He blames her for his own mistakes
He won't fire her so he doesn't have to pay for unemployment
He logs the hours in a way nobody but himself could access
Her co-workers are not the issue and she does not wish to leave this job
A:
See: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_overtime.htm
Forced labor is slavery: is that really what's happening?
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A:
First of all, your friend should be asking the questions here. A lawyer should not be giving, in my opinion, advice unless it is to the actual client.
Nevertheless, hypothetically speaking, the employee always has the right to go to the Labor Commissioner and file a complaint about not being paid properly. The Labor Commissioner will take matters from there. The thing is to get a complaint filed with the Labor Commissioner. Your friend will have to do that herself.
In California, the Labor Commissioner has the power to issue orders to the employer, to compel payment of back wages earned but unpaid, plus overtime earned but not paid, plus interest, and penalties which the employer will also have to pay.
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