At Elite Employment Law, we understand that every hour you work matters. As dedicated employment law firm serving Orange County and the surrounding areas, we are committed to ensuring that employees receive the full compensation they have earned.
Our decades of experience and impressive 99 percent success rate are evidence of our commitment to protecting the rights of employees. If you think you have a claim for unpaid overtime, our Orange County employment law attorney may be able to help you recover those wages plus interest and possible penalties.
Meet Attorney Samuel P. Nielson
Founder & Lead Attorney
Samuel P. Nielson is the Founder and Lead Attorney of Elite Employment Law APC, where he is dedicated to protecting the rights of employees across Southern California. With over a decade of experience, Sam has built a reputation for fierce advocacy and trusted legal counsel in employment law. He represents a wide range of clients—from corporate executives to hourly workers—in all stages of employment disputes, including pre-litigation negotiations, administrative hearings, litigation, and trial.
Sam focuses exclusively on employment law and has successfully handled cases involving age discrimination, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, religious discrimination, sexual harassment, general workplace harassment, unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, wage disputes, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued in their workplace. Unfortunately, many employees in California still face serious challenges such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination—issues that violate both federal and state labor laws. At Elite Employment Law, we exclusively represent employees and have a success rate surpassing 97 percent. We understand what it takes to achieve justice and are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Contact an Orange County Employment Attorneys Today
If you’re facing issues at work—whether it’s harassment, retaliation, wage disputes, wrongful termination, or any other employment law concern—Elite Employment Law is here to help. We’re committed to protecting your rights and fighting for the fair treatment and compensation you deserve. Every employee has the right to a safe, respectful, and lawful workplace. Let us put our experience and dedication to work for you. Contact Elite Employment Law today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice.
Why Choose Elite Employment Law for Your Unpaid Overtime Case?
When you are facing wage theft through unpaid overtime, you need a law firm with a proven track record of success. Orange County workers trust Elite Employment Law for good reason.
We exclusively represent employees and with over a decade of experience successfully protecting workers’ rights, we know what it takes to achieve justice for our clients.
At Elite Employment Law, we understand the stress of confronting an employer. Our compassionate team supports you every step of the way.
Because we work on a contingency basis, you do not pay us anything unless we win or successfully settle your claim.
When you schedule a free consultation, we listen to your story, evaluate your claim, explain your options, and help you determine your next steps.
Each client and each case is unique. That is why we customize our legal strategy to fit your specific situation. At Elite Employment Law give each client personalized attention and work tirelessly to recover the compensation and damages you deserve.
Understanding Overtime Laws in California
California’s labor laws are among the most protective in the nation when it comes to workers’ rights. As an employee in Orange County, you are entitled to overtime pay under several circumstances, including:
- More than 8 hours in a day. You should receive 1.5 times your regular pay rate for hours worked beyond 8 up to 12 in a single workday.
- More than 40 hours in a week. Any time worked over 40 hours in a workweek qualifies for overtime at 1.5 times your regular rate.
- Seventh consecutive day. If you work seven days in a row, the first 8 hours on the seventh day should be paid at 1.5 times your regular rate.
- Double-time scenarios include working more than 12 hours in a single day, and on the seventh consecutive workday, for any hours worked beyond 8.
These rules apply to most non-exempt employees, including many hourly workers. However, even if you are classified as exempt, it is crucial to ensure that this classification is correct under the law.
Common Overtime Violations in Orange County
Despite clear legal mandates, some employers in Orange County still attempt to circumvent overtime laws. At Elite Employment Law, we frequently encounter and challenge the following violations:
- Misclassification of employees as exempt to avoid overtime pay
- Requiring employees to work “off the clock”
- Failing to include all forms of compensation when calculating the regular rate for overtime
- Averaging hours over two or more weeks to avoid weekly overtime
- Paying “comp time” instead of overtime wages
- Failing to pay for all hours worked, including preparation time or required activities before or after shifts
Case Results
Workplace Retaliation Case
$2.95 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a manager fired for objecting to race discrimination the manager faced from co-workers.
Unpaid Overtime Case
$1.6 Million Settlement – Confidential settlement for a sales manager deprived of earned commissions and overtime wages.
Sexual Discrimination Case
$750,000 Settlement- Confidential settlement for a vice president subject to sex discrimination, including hundreds of thousands in unpaid bonuses paid to male peers.
Testimonials
“If you’re in need of an Employment Lawyer, I highly encourage you to at least speak with the team at Elite Employment Law and see what they can do to help you!”
“Sam and the entire team at Elite Employment Law are fantastic. I recently had a need for guidance and support in an employment-related case and spoke with several different firms and attorneys before deciding to work with Sam. His firm has a great set of support staff to help with intake and onboarding, making the process very smooth. For Sam’s part, he maintained active communication as the case progressed, and promptly replied to all my questions throughout.”
-Zachary C.
“Sam Nielson handled my wrongful termination and defamation claims with a skill and expertise that went beyond just the basics of law. He was excellent at coaching me through the process and managing my expectations every step of the way. None of this was fun, but I am very glad Sam was there to be my guide.”
-Bill B.
“Working with Elite Employment Law was a seamless experience. Their team was professional, efficient, and made the entire process simple. They kept me informed every step of the way and delivered outstanding results. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome and highly recommend their services!!”
-Adam B.
Areas Our Orange County Employment Lawyers Serve
We proudly serve the following neighborhoods in Orange County, CA:
Anaheim | Irvine | Newport Beach | Huntington Beach | Laguna Beach | Costa Mesa | Santa Ana | Fullerton | Orange | Mission Viejo | Garden Grove | Buena Park | San Clemente | Tustin | Westminster | Yorba Linda | Dana Point | Lake Forest | Aliso Viejo | Laguna NiguelCypress | Fountain Valley | La Habra | Laguna Hills | Laguna Woods | Los Alamitos | Placentia | Rancho Santa Margarita | Seal Beach | Stanton
Contact Our Orange County Unpaid Overtime Attorneys Today
Do not let another day go by without claiming the fair compensation you have earned. At Elite Employment Law, we are ready to fight for your rights and hold employers accountable for wage theft.
Our skilled Orange County unpaid overtime lawyer believes in justice workers. Let us put our passion, experience, and resources to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.