When a local Acupuncturist contacted the Center her goal was to figure out if she was owed money and if so, how she could receive the money she was owed. The acupuncturist was paid based on the number of clients served, and not an hourly rate, but she was required to be at work, regardless of whether there were any clients scheduled. She received no compensation between clients.
Piece rate workers need to be paid at least a minimum wage for all hours worked and must be compensated for “nonproductive time.” For the client, our wage claim clinic helped her calculate and file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.
One of the difficulties in this client’s case was that she did not have access to the records of the clients she saw while employed. CWR helped her subpoena the records from her former employer. This allowed her to have evidence of the time she spent waiting between clients that went uncompensated.
Ultimately, we were able to help successfully resolve this client’s Labor Commissioner case.
Too often, piece rate workers are not properly paid, and for many workers justice is rarely actualized. As a resource for all low wage workers, we can help educate workers on piece rate pay laws and help them become strong self advocates. If you, or someone you know, is paid a piece rate and you want to know about your rights, please reach out to us on our Job Protection Helpline 916-905-1625