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Riverside Class Action Lawyer

When an employer is found to be ignoring rights, violating labor laws, or being disrespectful, you can generally expect that their poor behavior has impacted multiple workers. Unfortunately, thousands of California employees deal with unlawful and unjust treatment in the workplace every year. However, many of them don’t realize that they have the power to take action against a bad-mannered employer. Through a class action employment claim, you and your coworkers can hold your Riverside, CA workplace accountable. Discuss your situation with Ferraro Vega, as our team is ready to help any California worker through litigation.

A Client-Focused Employment Firm in Riverside

A class action is very different from your basic employment claim. Because of its complexity, in addition to the strictness of employment law, you need a lawyer who is well-versed in labor litigation. At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, our attorneys provide client-focused support through class action claims in Riverside. We have the insight, negotiation skills, and knowledge needed to fight for a positive outcome for you and your coworkers. Our firm believes that no employee should be treated unfairly, and if they are, they deserve to fight back. Don’t wait to see how we can represent your Riverside class action employment claim today.

Understanding a Class Action Employment Claim

If you’re contemplating starting a class action or joining one here in Riverside, it’s critical that you understand how they work and the laws that dictate them. Unlike your basic employment claim, a class action involves multiple plaintiffs and is handled by the state government. The plaintiffs that join together to file a claim are referred to as the “class” of the case. Class actions allow large groups to file one shared claim against their employer instead of each of them having to file their own. Any individual who joins a class action will share representation with the other plaintiffs. This simply means that everyone in the class does not need their own lawyer and can instead share one legal team.

Common Class Actions Against California Employers

Because California is one of the largest, most populated states in the country, it has more businesses and employees than any other state. This is one of the main reasons California has such detailed employment laws, as the local government wants to ensure workers are treated properly. However, it’s nearly impossible to regulate every employer’s behavior at the same time. This is why employees are given the right to file employment claims, individual claims, and class actions.

When employees decide to file a class action, it is because more than one of them was harmed by the same behavior. Some of the most common class actions we see here in Riverside, CA, include:

• Meal and Rest Break Violations: State labor laws give all non-exempt California employees the right to take breaks. A ten-minute paid rest break must be granted every four hours in addition to a 30-minute unpaid meal break every five hours. Many employers deny their workers adequate break time, ultimately taking advantage of them and overworking them. This often results in the impacted employees filing a class action.
• Wage and Hour Violations: When an employer fails to pay their workers correctly, whether for overtime or their hours worked, this breaks employment law. In many cases where employers are violating wage laws, they are mispaying a variety of employees. This is why wage and hour violations are commonly claimed in class actions, as groups of workers can work together to recover compensation.
• Employee Discrimination: Discrimination should not be tolerated, let alone present in today’s workplace. Unfortunately, countless workers are still discriminated against every day here in California. Sometimes, an employer’s discriminatory behavior is so severe that it impacts a collection of people who are part of a protected class. When this occurs, they can join together to file a class action and target their employer’s poor behavior.
• Employee Misclassification: Sometimes, an employer attempts to use deceitful tactics to underpay their workers. One of these methods is known as employee misclassification, which involves a company categorizing exempt and non-exempt employees incorrectly. By doing this, your employer may have gotten out of paying you overtime or providing you with certain benefits granted by the state. If you and other coworkers were victims of employee misclassification, filing a class action may be the right choice for you.

Do You Need an Employment Lawyer When Filing a Class Action?

It is imperative that you and your coworkers retain an employment lawyer with strong litigation experience if you’re looking to file a class action. Without the proper legal help, it can be arduous to attempt to manage the complexities of holding your employer accountable. A class action employment attorney can aid you through every step of your case, starting with the initiation of your claim. Ferraro Vega is a southern California firm that is committed to the protection of all workers. You should consider hiring one of our class action attorneys for a variety of reasons, including:

• Our team can analyze your situation and determine whether or not you have a substantial claim for a class action in Riverside.
• We can assist in the class certification process.
• You’re going to need an attorney who can defend you against your employer’s legal team.
• Our employment lawyers share decades of experience practicing employment law and litigation, helping us to guide you through the different steps of your class action.
• We know effective legal strategies that can help us fight for the compensation you are owed, plus damages.
• Our firm is devoted to advocating for employees who have been mistreated by their workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How Many People Can Be Involved in an Employment Class Action?

A: Technically speaking, there is no official number of people that are required to enlist in a class action. However, it has been clearly noted that class actions tend to have stronger chances for certification when they have at least 20 or more members. Because there is no minimum or maximum for a class action, the filing “class” can include anywhere from a few employees to thousands of different people. If you know of multiple workers who have been affected, talk to them about joining your class action.

Q: What Is the Difference Between a Class Action and an Individual Employment Claim?

A: California allows employees to file individual claims about their employer’s violations through the Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO). The LCO is in charge of managing all employment law violations and works to settle matters before they come out of hand. By doing this, most employment claims stay out of court, and employers don’t get sued. In some cases, however, multiple employees have been impacted and want to recover damages and compensation. When this happens, they can work together to form a class action and file it against their employer in state court.

Q: Are You Able to Back Out of a Riverside Class Action?

A: Many employees who are contemplating joining a class action are worried that they cannot leave if they change their minds. Luckily, every class action supplies members the opportunity to “opt-out” or leave the class. If you choose to leave a class action, you cannot benefit from any damages or compensation if the case is won. However, you still reserve the individual right to file a claim against your employer if they violated California employment law. If you’re unsure whether joining a class action is in your interest, talk to our firm for advice on your situation.

Q: How Do You Initiate an Employment Class Action in California?

A: To initiate any kind of employment claim, you’ll first need to consult with a labor lawyer who can help you determine if you have a strong case. From there, you’ll need to gather any coworkers who have been impacted by the same behavior as you and are comfortable joining the class. After you have a group of plaintiffs, your class will have to be certified. If your class is certified and everything goes well with your case, it will then move forward to the litigation and settlement phases.

Q: How Long Do Class Actions Take to Settle?

A: Because class actions move through California’s local governments, they tend to be resolved slower than basic employment claims. However, class actions are often able to win more compensation because they are not managed by the Labor Commissioner’s Office. If you initiate or join a class action in the Riverside area, you can expect it to take anywhere from one to three years for your case to be finalized.

Dedicated Representation for Riverside Class Actions

Have you and other employees experienced unlawful mistreatment at your place of work? If so, it’s time to take action. At Ferraro Vega, we advocate for the rights of employees across California. While it may be intimidating to stand up for yourself, we’re prepared to support and defend you throughout your Riverside class action. Contact Ferraro Vega to schedule your initial class action consultation with our Riverside attorneys today.