Wage and Hour Lawyer in Fullerton

If you experienced wage theft at a Fullerton workplace, you have strong protections under California law. We represent employees only, never employers, and offer a free, confidential consultation. 1-800-371-3088.

What Are Wage and Hour Claims in Fullerton

Fullerton workers are entitled to the highest of: federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour), California state minimum wage ($16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026 under California Labor Code section 1182.12), or any applicable local minimum wage. Fullerton has no separate citywide minimum-wage ordinance (Fullerton is currently a general-law city); the California state minimum wage of $16.90/hour applies. Fast-food workers at chains with 60 or more national locations earn at least $20.00/hour under AB 1228 (California Labor Code section 1474) since April 1, 2024. Healthcare workers at covered facilities earn tiered rates under SB 525 (California Labor Code sections 1182.14, 1182.15, 1182.16) reaching $25/hour at large hospital systems on July 1, 2026.

Fullerton Industries Where Wage and Hour Violations Are Most Common

• Higher-education workers - at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF - largest CSU campus by total enrollment, more than 41,000 students) and Fullerton College (1913 - the oldest continuously-operating community college in California, part of NOCCCD).
• Healthcare workers - at Providence St. Jude Medical Center (101 East Valencia Mesa Drive, (714) 871-3280) - a 320-bed faith-based, non-profit acute-care hospital.
• K-12 education workers - at the Fullerton Joint Union High School District (1,001-5,000 employees per LinkedIn) and the Fullerton School District.
• Public-sector workers - at the City of Fullerton (303 W. Commonwealth Avenue), Fullerton Police Department, and Orange County government.
• Legacy aerospace and current manufacturing workers - at the former Hughes Aircraft Fullerton campus (founded 1957; Raytheon acquired Hughes in 1997 and sold the 293-acre Fullerton site to developers; many former workers continue to live in the area) and at other light-industrial operations along Orangethorpe Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue.
• Retail and restaurant workers - in downtown Fullerton along Harbor Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue, at Amerige Heights Town Center, and at Fullerton Town Center. Fast-food workers at chains with 60+ national locations earn the $20/hour AB 1228 floor.

Fullerton Local Protections

Fullerton is currently a general-law city (incorporated February 15, 1904) and has no separate citywide minimum-wage, hotel-worker, fair-workweek, healthcare-worker, or paid-sick-leave ordinance beyond California state law. In March 2025 the Fullerton City Council was actively considering a transition to a charter city, which could in the future enable additional local ordinances; check current status before relying on this point. Fullerton workers rely on the state-level floor under California Labor Code section 1182.12 ($16.90/hour effective January 1, 2026) plus industry-specific state rules including AB 1228 ($20/hour fast-food) and SB 525 (healthcare-worker tiered schedule - relevant for Providence St. Jude Medical Center workers).

California Paid Sick Leave (Labor Code sections 245-249) requires at least 40 hours (5 days) of paid sick leave per year, effective January 1, 2024. The 2026 exempt-salary floor is $70,304/year (twice the state minimum wage, per DIR News 2025-118).

California Law

For the full California wage-and-hour framework, including overtime (Labor Code section 510), meal and rest breaks (sections 512 and 226.7), wage statements (section 226), waiting-time penalties (section 203), expense reimbursement (section 2802), and PAGA (sections 2698 et seq.), see our California employment law page.

What Compensation Can You Recover

Unpaid wages, overtime, missed meal/rest premiums (one hour of pay per missed break), wage-statement penalties (up to $4,000 per employee under Labor Code section 226(e)), waiting-time penalties (up to 30 days of pay under Labor Code section 203), interest, liquidated damages on minimum-wage shortfalls, and attorneys' fees and costs (Labor Code section 1194). For details, see our California employment law page.

How to File a Wage Claim in Fullerton

Wage claims can be filed with the California Labor Commissioner (DLSE Santa Ana Office, 2 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, Santa Ana, CA 92707, phone (714) 558-4910). Civil suits are heard at the Orange County Superior Court, Central Justice Center, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.