California Wage Theft Recovery System

How It Works

How the California Wage Theft Recovery System Works

Three layers working together: the kit’s legal knowledge, Claude AI’s analytical power, and California’s free enforcement mechanisms.

1
Request Your Free Evaluation

Download instantly. Find your situation in the decision tree. Go to the relevant section.

2
Use Claude AI

Copy the prompt for your violation, fill in your facts, paste into claude.ai (free). Get in-depth educational analysis of your situation.

3
File and Collect

Send the demand letter. File the DLSE claim. File PAGA notice. California enforces for you — free.

The Prompt Is the Tool

Each section of the kit contains a pre-written Claude AI prompt engineered specifically for that violation type. You copy it, fill in your facts, and paste it into claude.ai (free account). Claude applies California Labor Code to your specific situation — identifying violations, calculating damages, and walking you through every enforcement option available.

Here is what that looks like in practice.

Real Example — What a Worker Entered

Janitor. $28.50/hr. Hotel. 58 hours per week, 10 hours a day. No overtime. No breaks. No bathroom breaks.

What the Prompt Returned

Wage order identified: IWC Wage Order 5 — Public Housekeeping Industry. Non-exempt. Full overtime and break protections apply.

Violations found: Daily overtime (2 hrs/day unpaid), weekly overtime (18 hrs/week unpaid), two missed meal breaks per day, two missed rest breaks per day, wage statement violations.

Estimated recovery (6 months):

Unpaid overtime
$8,000 – $15,000+
Break premiums
$4,000 – $8,000+
PAGA penalties
$5,000 – $15,000+
Waiting time (if terminated)
Up to $8,550

Total potential recovery: $15,000 – $40,000+

Filing path: DLSE claim → PAGA notice to LWDA → contingency employment attorney. Statute of limitations: 3 years back from today.

This worker had no idea what he was owed. He entered one sentence. The prompt identified five separate violations, calculated the recovery range, named the correct wage order, and produced a step-by-step filing plan. That is what every prompt in the kit does — applied to your specific facts.

California Gives You Free Enforcement

  • DLSE Wage Claim: File with the Labor Commissioner — they investigate, subpoena records, and issue binding judgments. Free.
  • Small Claims Court: Up to $12,500, no attorney, 6–8 weeks to resolution.
  • PAGA Notice: File with LWDA — forces employment attorneys to take your case on contingency for no upfront cost.
Request Your Free Evaluation

Educational use only. Not legal advice. Justice Foundation.