Butte County, California

Butte County Employment Lawyers

California employment-law representation for Butte County workers in all cities and unincorporated areas. Free, confidential consultation. We represent employees only - never employers.

Butte County (~211,000 residents across 5 cities - Chico, Oroville, Paradise, Gridley, Biggs) is anchored by California State University, Chico (Chico State), Enloe Medical Center (Chico - defendant in employee class actions), Oroville Hospital, the County of Butte, Butte College, and significant agriculture (almonds, rice, walnuts, peaches) and forestry. The 2018 Camp Fire (Paradise) reshaped the workforce; many displaced workers now commute from outside the county. Butte County follows the California state minimum wage of $16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026 - no county-wide local ordinance. Civil employment cases are heard at the North Butte County Courthouse in Chico (1775 Concord Avenue) and the Butte County Courthouse in Oroville (One Court Street). Free, confidential consultation. We represent employees only.

Why Butte County Employees Need an Employment Lawyer

Strict deadlines apply to every employment claim: CRD (California Civil Rights Department) requires an administrative complaint within 3 years of the violation and a civil suit within 1 year of the right-to-sue notice; EEOC charges must be filed within 300 days; the Government Claims Act requires presentation of personal-injury, wrongful-death, and personal-property tort claims against public entities within 6 months (Government Code section 911.2); all other claims must be presented within 1 year. California does not cap FEHA emotional-distress or punitive damages - but you must protect the deadlines first. We file the claim, handle the agency or court process, and recover what you're owed. No fee unless we win.

Common Employment Law Violations Across Butte County

  • *Lefevers et al. v. Enloe Medical Center et al.*, Butte County Superior Court Case No. 19CV02194 - General Employment / Labor & Employment class action (filed July 19, 2019) - Filed on behalf of Kathleen Lefevers and class members against Enloe Medical Center alleging Labor Code violations. (Source: Butte County Superior Court docket; see also butte.courts.ca.gov tentative rulings and Trellis.law - Butte Sup. Ct. Case 19CV02194)
  • *Bailey v. Enloe Medical Center*, E.D. Cal. Case No. 2:18-cv-00055-DAD-DMC - federal employment / wrongful-termination action - Bailey alleged wrongful termination and retaliation (originally filed in Butte County Superior Court, removed to federal court). (Source: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (govinfo))
  • Enloe Medical Center NLRB Charge 20-CA-116966 - NLRB Charged Party / Respondent Employer: Enloe Medical Center (Chico). Demonstrates federal-NLRA (29 U.S.C. section 151+) reach over Enloe employee organizing and concerted-activity disputes. (Source: National Labor Relations Board)

Butte County Worker Protections by Industry

We represent employees across all Butte County industries. Below are the largest employers and the rules that govern wage, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful-termination claims in this county.

Largest Butte County employers

  • California State University, Chico (Chico State) - CSU public university; FEHA + Title IX + Title VII + Government Code section 8547+ state-employee whistleblower + CSU Whistleblower Protection Policy + Government Claims Act 6-month notice
  • Enloe Medical Center (Chico) - section 1278.5; defendant in *Lefevers et al. v. Enloe Medical Center et al.* General Employment / Labor & Employment class action (filed 2019); also subject of NLRB Charge 20-CA-116966
  • Oroville Hospital - section 1278.5
  • County of Butte - public-sector; Skelly + 6-month Government Claims Act
  • Butte College - community college district; FEHA + education-code due process
  • Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico) - major regional employer; Cal/OSHA + FEHA + section 226 wage statements
  • Paradise Unified School District (post-Camp Fire reconstituted) - public-sector + 6-month claims-act notice
  • Agricultural employers (almonds, rice, walnuts, peaches) - AB 1066 overtime parity; Cal/OSHA outdoor heat-illness; ALRA

Local wage rules

Butte County follows the California state minimum wage of $16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026. Butte County has no county-wide local ordinance and no Butte city is on the UC Berkeley Labor Center 2026 inventory. Fast-food workers earn $20.00/hour under AB 1228. Sources: UC Berkeley Labor Center · CA DIR

Industry-specific protections

  • Chico State / CSU workers - Government Code section 8547+ state-employee whistleblower; CSU Whistleblower Protection Policy; FEHA + Title VII + Title IX + Government Claims Act 6-month notice
  • Hospital workers (Enloe, Oroville Hospital) - Cal. Health & Safety Code section 1278.5
  • Healthcare workers also protected by NLRA (29 U.S.C. section 151+) for concerted activity and union organizing - see Enloe NLRB Case 20-CA-116966
  • Agricultural / orchard workers - AB 1066 overtime parity; Cal/OSHA outdoor heat-illness (8 CCR section 3395); Labor Code sections 1682-1699 (Farm Labor Contractor Law); ALRA
  • Public-sector workers (County, cities, school districts, Butte College) - Skelly + 6-month Government Claims Act
  • All workers - FEHA, Title VII, EFAA, PWFA, CFRA, PDL, Labor Code section 1102.5, Cal/OSHA section 6310

How to File an Employment Claim in Butte County

Civil employment cases brought by Butte County workers are heard at the Butte County Superior Court - North Butte County Courthouse, 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928. Most California employment claims are filed first as administrative complaints with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before they can be filed as civil lawsuits.

Deadlines: CRD: 3 years to file an administrative complaint and 1 year to sue after right-to-sue; EEOC: 300 days; Government Claims Act (public employees): 6 months; Labor Code section 1102.5 / Tameny / FEHA civil action: 3 years; Labor Code section 510/226/1194 wage claims: 3-4 years; PAGA: 1 year (preceded by LWDA notice).

Government Resources for Butte County Workers

Why Butte County Workers Choose Eghbali Law Firm

  • Employees only

    We never represent employers. Every resource goes toward winning your case.

  • No fee unless we win

    You pay nothing unless we recover for you. No upfront costs. No hidden fees.

  • Free confidential consultation

    No cost to speak with us. Everything you share is protected by attorney-client privilege.

  • Statewide California practice

    We serve workers across all of California regardless of where you live or work.

  • Phone or video - no office visit needed

    Most consultations happen by phone or video. You only attend if your testimony is required.

  • Multilingual staff available

    We serve clients in multiple languages - contact us to discuss your case in your preferred language.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are employment lawsuits heard for Butte County workers? +
Civil employment cases brought by Butte County workers are heard at the Butte County Superior Court - North Butte County Courthouse, 1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928 or the Butte County Courthouse, One Court Street, Oroville, CA 95965-3303. Source: butte.courts.ca.gov.
Does Butte County have its own minimum wage? +
No. Butte County follows California state minimum wage - $16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026. Butte County has no separate county-wide ordinance and no Butte city is on the UC Berkeley Labor Center 2026 inventory.
What law applies when an Enloe Medical Center worker is retaliated against? +
Cal. Health & Safety Code section 1278.5 protects hospital workers from retaliation for patient-safety reporting - reinstatement, back pay, special damages, attorneys' fees, and a civil penalty up to $25,000. Labor Code section 1102.5 (3 years, civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation) and Tameny public-policy claims also apply. Enloe was the defendant in *Lefevers et al. v. Enloe Medical Center et al.* (Butte Sup. Ct. 19CV02194) and an NLRB Case 20-CA-116966 - Trellis.
What law applies when a Chico State employee is retaliated against for reporting research misconduct? +
Government Code section 8547+ (California Whistleblower Protection Act for state employees) and the CSU Whistleblower Protection Policy protect Chico State employees. Labor Code section 1102.5 (3 years) and Tameny public-policy claims also apply. As state employees, Chico State workers must give written tort-claim notice under the Government Claims Act within 6 months for personal-injury, wrongful-death, and personal-property claims, or 1 year for all other claims (Government Code section 911.2) under the Government Claims Act.
What law applies when an almond/walnut/rice harvester is not paid overtime? +
AB 1066 (Labor Code sections 857-864) phases in full agricultural overtime parity (1.5×/2×) - large employers (26+) since January 1, 2022; small employers (≤25) since January 1, 2025. Labor Code section 1194 allows recovery of unpaid wages plus interest and attorneys' fees (3-year statute). Cal/OSHA outdoor heat-illness standard (8 CCR section 3395) requires shade, water, and rest breaks.
What unemployment and WARN protections apply to Camp Fire-displaced workers? +
California WARN Act (Labor Code sections 1400-1408) requires 60-day advance notice for mass layoffs of 50+ employees in any 30-day period. Federal WARN (29 U.S.C. section 2101+) covers 100+. Damages: up to 60 days back pay and benefits. EDD unemployment-insurance disaster-extension benefits and federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) may apply for federally declared disasters. FEHA disability-accommodation rules apply for displaced workers with PTSD or other Camp Fire-related disabilities.

Free Confidential Consultation for Butte County Workers

If you experienced employment violations in Butte County, contact Eghbali Law Firm. Free, confidential consultation. 1-800-371-3088. We represent employees only - never employers. No fee unless we win.

Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Employment law is complex and fact-specific. The information on this page reflects California law as of 2026 and may change. If you believe your rights have been violated, please consult a licensed California employment attorney to evaluate your specific situation.