One of the first things a worker should do before filing any wage claim is calculate the amount in dispute. Accurate calculation strengthens the claim, signals preparation, and sets a realistic basis for settlement.
Building the Calculation
Start with the pay stubs and time records. For each pay period, identify: hours worked, hours reported, regular rate of pay, overtime hours due, overtime hours paid, and any missed meal or rest periods. The difference between what was due and what was paid, multiplied across the applicable three-year period, is the base claim.
Penalties and interest are separate from and in addition to the base claim. Waiting time penalties, meal and rest period premiums, and PAGA penalties all layer on top of the wage claim itself. Workers who calculate only the underpaid wages are underestimating the value of their claims.
The California Wage Theft Recovery System gives workers the exact tools and templates to document violations, calculate what they’re owed, and file the right claims at the right agencies — without paying an attorney to get started. Request your free evaluation here.
California Wage Theft Recovery System 
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