{"id":2119,"date":"2014-05-12T08:00:56","date_gmt":"2014-05-12T08:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.california-labor-laws-attorneys.com\/blog\/?p=222"},"modified":"2014-05-12T08:00:56","modified_gmt":"2014-05-12T08:00:56","slug":"smoking-guns-proving-california-overtime-pay-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.california-labor-law-attorney.com\/smoking-guns-proving-california-overtime-pay-case\/","title":{"rendered":"“Smoking Guns” to Proving a California Overtime Pay Case"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Professionally<\/p>\n

It is not uncommon for employees to become discouraged or even hopeless when it comes to proving that overtime pay is due. Since in many cases, employers do not keep time records or the employee is misclassified; i.e. told they are salaried (exempt) and not entitled to overtime pay.<\/p>\n

First, the employee must understand that pursuant to\u00a0Nordquist v. McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Company (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 555, 562<\/i>,\u00a0EVERY EMPLOYEE \u00a0IS ENTITLED TO CALIFORNIA OVERTIME PAY\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>unless they fall under an exemption; ie. administrative exemption, executive exemption, professional exemption,\u00a0salesperson exemption<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0or computer software exemption, or another wage order preventing them from receiving overtime pay. The employer bears the burden of proof and it is the employer\u2019s responsibility to prove the employee is not entitled to overtime pay.<\/p>\n

The second important principle to understand is that California employers,not employees<\/span><\/span>, must carry the burden of time keeping for all non exempt (employees entitled to overtime pay). For example,\u00a0Anderson v. Mt. Clemens Pottery Co.<\/i>, (1945) 328 U.S. 680<\/strong>,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 supports this assertion. In the event the employer did not keep time records, the courts will rely on the reasonable testimony of the employee.<\/p>\n

That said, should the employer produce a witness or other documentation that refutes the employee\u2019s testimony, the burden of proving overtime, reverts back to the employee. This is where execution of the \u201cSmoking Gun\u201d strategy below is critical.<\/p>\n

STRATEGY<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is critical to immediately begin gathering information if you have an overtime pay claim.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Witnesses.<\/strong>\u00a0Gather witnesses that can testify to the duties you performed and the hours you worked. Your\u00a0California labor law attorney<\/span><\/a>\u00a0may wish to get them to sign a declaration if possible.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Electronic footprints.<\/strong>\u00a0Time clock punch ins and outs, if accurate are the easiest to show time worked. When unavailable, obtain computer logins that show work start and stop times. \u00a0Also, a garage pass, suite key, register key, on site security camera tape may show time worked. Your California labor law attorney can subpoena all of this information.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Phone and electronic communications.\u00a0<\/strong>Your phone bill, cell phone bill, home computer, pda or office computer, are invaluable sources of showing time worked outside of normal working hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Vendors and outside associates.<\/strong>\u00a0When all else fails, get declarations from security personnel, and vendors who witnessed you working early or staying late.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
            \n
          1. Memos, handbooks and performance evaluations<\/strong>.\u00a0Assemble memos or check in the employee handbook\u00a0to\u00a0see if it reveals an employer’s attitude towards overtime work; i.e. Memos that make statements such as: “Stay until all work is done” or “do whatever it takes.” While this may not be enough to prove your overtime\u00a0case, this information can help paint a picture of the employer’s attitude towards overtime to a judge or jury. Also, performance evaluations sometimes praise an employee for working excessive hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            In addition to proving your case in court, if necessary, in many instances the gathering of these \u201csmoking guns\u201d may help to bring your case to a faster settlement without going to trial.<\/p>\n

            \n

            Photo Credit: Shutterstock\/ GaudiLab<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            It is not uncommon for employees to become discouraged or even hopeless when it comes to proving that overtime pay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-overtime"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n"Smoking Guns" to Proving a California Overtime Pay Case - UELG<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Know the keys to collecting back overtime there are some key pieces of info that can help you get paid.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.california-labor-law-attorney.com\/smoking-guns-proving-california-overtime-pay-case\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\""Smoking Guns" to Proving a California Overtime Pay Case - 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