Unpaid wages and overtime in San Francisco, California
This page is for workers in San Francisco who were not paid what they are owed. It explains the state wage claim, filing deadlines and local enforcement, and links to licensed lawyers with labor and employment law on record.
The state wage claim[5][2]
Workers in California can file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner's Office when an employer does not pay wages or benefits owed.
Deadlines[5]
Most claims for minimum wage, overtime, missed meal and rest breaks, sick leave, illegal deductions and unpaid reimbursements must be filed within three years. Claims based on a written contract have four years. Some claims have shorter deadlines of one or two years.
Final pay[1]
When an employer fires a worker, all wages earned are due immediately.
Employee or contractor[3]
California presumes a worker is an employee unless the hiring business shows the worker is free from its control, does work outside its usual business, and is independently established in that trade.
San Francisco's local laws[4]
The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement enforces the city's own labor laws, including its minimum wage.
Lawyers in San Francisco, California
The directory lists 5,918 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in San Francisco, California; 559 of them have Labor & Employment as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).
A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.
You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.
State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory
Questions
Can I file a wage claim if I was paid as a contractor?[3][5]
Yes. If you were really an employee under California's test, you may be owed wages.
How long do I have?[5]
Three years for most wage claims, four years for a written contract.
You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.
Sources
- California Labor Code section 201 (final pay when fired), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- Labor Commissioner's Office, California Department of Industrial Relations (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- California Labor Code section 2775 (employee or contractor test), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, City and County of San Francisco (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
- How to file a wage claim, California Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE) (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.
Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.