California employees whose employers have treated them unjustly or unfairly on the job have the right to file a California labor board complaint against them.
If you believe your employer violated labor laws or subjected you to discriminatory treatment, understanding how California’s complaint filing process works can help protect your job security and assure your employer is held accountable for their workplace violations.
Below, the California employment lawyers go over the filing process. If you have questions or would like to speak with a member of our team, please contact us today.
Contents hideFirst, you will want to identify which labor board to file with. Most California employees experiencing employment disputes file a complaint with one of two state agencies.
The California Labor Board, also known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), enforces various labor laws in the state involving unpaid wages, meal breaks, rest breaks, overtime, and other demands for earned compensation.
The DLSE also handles retaliation claims involving allegations that the employer took adverse employment actions because an employee or job applicant engaged in certain protected conduct.
Alternatively, if your claim involves discrimination or harassment, you will want to file your California labor board complaint with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
Next, you must gather any documentation that supports your case.
This can include pay stubs, work schedules, employment contracts, emails, text messages, names and contact information of the employer who harmed you, names and contact information of witnesses, and any other evidence that can back up your claims.
After choosing the appropriate reporting agency and gathering the necessary information, you can fill out the proper forms and file your complaint.
If you plan to file a wage complaint with the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), you may file online, in person at one of the Labor Commissioner’s Office locations, or by mail.
You can file all other DLSE complaints here. You may also download the DLSE complaint form and submit it via mail or in person at your nearest DLSE office.
You can also file online if you plan to file with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
Alternatively, you can file by mail after filling out the proper form by sending it to CRD headquarters at 2218 Kausen Drive, Suite 100, Elk Grove, CA 95758.
You may also file by calling the California Civil Rights Department or visiting a local office.
CONTACT US TO SPEAK TO AN EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY
Our California employment law attorneys have experience helping employees navigate the process of filing a labor board complaint.
To contact the DLSE, call 833-LCO-INFO (833-526-4636). You may also visit the DLSE webpage to determine DLSE business hours, find local office addresses, or visit an office nearest you.
General inquiries may be emailed to DLSE2@dir.ca.gov.
To contact the California Civil Rights Department about DFEH claims, call the Communication Center at 800-884-1684 (voice), 800-700-2320 (TTY), or California’s Relay Service at 711.
You can also email contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov or send mail inquiries to CRD headquarters. For a list of statewide offices and addresses, visit here.
Workplace Rights Law Group aims to level the playing field by providing California employees with the same experience, attention to detail, and personalized attention that the biggest law firms offer their wealthiest clients.
Our compassionate advocates have nearly 100 years of combined work experience and provide the same aggressive representation larger law firms provide without sacrificing quality, integrity, or work ethic.
We understand that one-size-fits-all lawyering doesn’t work, and we are here to address your unique concerns.
If you have employment law questions, call us today at 818-446-1045 or contact us online for a free case review.
Theo is a trial & appellate lawyer whose practice has emphasized wage-and-hour class actions, business disputes, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and intellectual property theft. He has tried civil cases and argued before various California Courts of Appeal.
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