CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT LAW

San Francisco Employment Lawyer

San Francisco is one of California’s most important centers for technology, finance, professional services, healthcare, hospitality, biotechnology, media, and innovation.

Employees throughout San Francisco are protected by California’s powerful workplace laws. If your employer failed to pay you properly, misclassified you, retaliated against you, discriminated against you, or terminated you unlawfully, you may be entitled to compensation and other legal remedies.

Unpaid Wages & Overtime Law

Recover overtime, minimum wages, off-the-clock pay, commissions, bonuses, and other compensation you earned.

Employee Misclassification Law

Employees improperly classified as exempt or independent contractors may be owed substantial wages and penalties.

Wrongful Termination Law

You may have a claim if you were fired for a discriminatory, retaliatory, or otherwise unlawful reason.

Workplace Retaliation Law

California law protects employees who report violations, complain about unlawful conduct, or exercise protected workplace rights.

Discrimination & Harassment Law

Employees are protected against unlawful workplace discrimination and harassment.

San Francisco: Technology, Finance, Healthcare & a Global Business Center

San Francisco is one of the country’s leading centers for technology, finance, professional and scientific services, information, biotechnology, and corporate employment. The city supports a large population of software employees, engineers, financial professionals, consultants, researchers, sales employees, administrators, and other highly skilled workers.

But San Francisco’s workforce extends far beyond its technology and financial sectors. Healthcare and education employ thousands of workers, while tourism, hotels, restaurants, retail, construction, government, transportation, property services, entertainment, and nonprofit organizations remain essential parts of the local economy.

From technology professionals and financial-services employees to nurses, restaurant workers, hotel employees, construction workers, retail staff, managers, and hourly employees, California employment laws protect workers throughout San Francisco.

Proudly Serving San Francisco

Experienced Representation. Statewide Commitment.

GS LAW, APC is based in Los Angeles, but we represent employees throughout California, including San Francisco and communities throughout the Bay Area.

Employment cases can often be handled efficiently regardless of where the employee lives. Consultations, client meetings, document exchanges, discovery, and case preparation can frequently be completed remotely, while depositions, mediations, hearings, and court appearances are handled according to the requirements of the particular case.

We have successfully represented employees in wage and hour claims, retaliation cases, discrimination disputes, and wrongful termination matters throughout California.

We fight for employees, not employers.

San Francisco Workers Are Protected by More Than California Law

Employees working in San Francisco may be protected by city employment ordinances in addition to California and federal law. San Francisco maintains its own minimum-wage and paid-sick-leave requirements, along with additional local labor standards that may apply depending on the employer, industry, and workplace. These city-specific protections can affect wage, leave, retaliation, and other employment claims.

SAN FRANCISCO MINIMUM WAGE

Employees performing covered work in San Francisco are subject to the City's local minimum-wage requirements.

PAID SICK LEAVE

San Francisco maintains a local Paid Sick Leave Ordinance that operates alongside California law.

ADDITIONAL LOCAL LABOR LAWS

Depending on the workplace, San Francisco employees may also be protected by other municipal labor standards administered by the City's Office of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Employment Cases We Handle in San Francisco

Unpaid Wages & Overtime

California employers must pay employees for all compensable time worked.

Claims may involve unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, minimum wages, unpaid commissions or bonuses, incorrect overtime rates, and other compensation.

Employees in every industry may be affected by unlawful pay practices.

Learn More About Overtime Claims →

Meal & Rest Break Violations

California law provides meal- and rest-period protections to most nonexempt employees.

Employees may have claims when workloads, staffing shortages, customer demands, patient-care responsibilities, production requirements, or employer policies prevent them from taking legally compliant breaks.

Learn More About Break Violations →

Employee Misclassification

California employees may be improperly classified as exempt workers or independent contractors.

Misclassification can result in unpaid overtime, missed break premiums, unreimbursed expenses, and other lost compensation.

Professional titles, salaries, or contractor agreements do not necessarily determine an employee’s legal classification.

Learn More About Employee Misclassification →

Wrongful Termination

California employers cannot terminate employees for discriminatory, retaliatory, or otherwise unlawful reasons.

A termination may violate the law when connected to protected complaints, medical leave, disability rights, whistleblowing, or other protected activity.

The circumstances surrounding the termination may support a legal claim.

Learn More About Wrongful Termination →

Workplace Retaliation

California law protects employees who exercise workplace rights or report unlawful conduct.

Retaliation may include termination, demotion, reduced hours, discipline, undesirable assignments, increased scrutiny, or other adverse treatment.

Employees should not be punished for engaging in legally protected activity.

Learn More About Workplace Retaliation →

Your Case. Your Access. 24/7.

Our secure online management system puts you in control. From anywhere, any time, you can:

Access your case files 24/7

Send & receive messages

Upload & send documents

Get real-time alerts

Track your case progress

We make it easy to stay informed and connected – every step of the way.

What Compensation May Be Available?

Depending on the claims and facts of the case, an employee may be entitled to recover:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be fired to have an employment claim?

No. Wage violations, misclassification, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other employment claims can arise while you are still employed.

Do you represent employees in San Francisco?

Yes. GS LAW, APC evaluates employment matters involving employees throughout San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area.

Can a Los Angeles employment lawyer represent me in San Francisco?

Yes. GS LAW, APC represents employees throughout California. Many aspects of an employment case can be handled remotely, while court appearances, depositions, mediations, and other proceedings are handled wherever the case requires.

How long do I have to file an employment claim?

Different employment claims have different deadlines. Employees should seek legal advice promptly rather than assume a particular statute of limitations applies.

How much does it cost to speak with an employment lawyer?

GS LAW, APC offers free initial consultations for prospective employment matters.

Resources & Articles

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