LAS–ELC’s Wage and Hour Enforcement Litigation Program (WageHELP) works to ensure that all workers benefit from laws that regulate pay and work hours.
These laws address a range of issues, including minimum wage, overtime wages, unpaid work hours, vacation pay, wage deductions, pay stubs, tips, breaks, and more. Workers who know their rights are much less likely to suffer abuses like working for sub-minimum wages and not being allowed to take rest breaks.
The Program’s goal is to educate workers about their wage-and-hour rights. We provide information through fact sheets, self-help guides, presentations, and legal advice. The program also helps protect workers from unlawful practices by providing them with the tools to advocate on their own behalf. When necessary, LAS–ELC may represent workers directly in their claims against their employers.
The tools we use include:
Legal help:
LAS–ELC represents individuals through litigation and administrative advocacy to enforce their rights in the workplace.
Class action lawsuits:
LAS–ELC engages in class action litigation on behalf of groups of workers with wage claims in state and federal court.
Advocacy:
LAS–ELC drafts appellate and amicus (Friends of the Court) briefs, and engages in legislative advocacy to enhance and expand wage and hour protections for workers.
Public education and outreach:
LAS–ELC conducts trainings and presentations for workers, community advocates, and legal aid and pro bono attorneys.
Technical assistance:
LAS–ELC provides technical assistance and self-help tools, such as fact sheets and self-help materials, and limited representation to persons in situations where proper guidance to employers and other entities may help resolve the problem.
Collaboration:
LAS–ELC collaborates with a range of advocates and communities to identify and strengthen the common interests of persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, women, people of color, immigrants, language minorities, labor, and working people with caretaking obligations.