No, paying employees in cash is not necessarily illegal in California. However, there are various employment laws that employers must comply with, like ensuring that workers are given accurate pay statements with applicable tax deductions. If they fail to follow these rules, the employer can face legal penalties, including a wage and hour lawsuit from one or more employees.
This is not an issue most people are concerned about until their employer starts paying them in cash, rather than a check or electronic deposit. And yes, it’s true that many employers pay in cash to avoid tax obligations and paying for job-related benefits, like workers’ compensation. This practice, known as paying under the table, is illegal under California law.
If you believe that your employer is violating your employment rights by paying you in cash, please protect yourself by contacting our law firm and speaking to an employment attorney.
Why is Getting Paid Under the Table Illegal?
It’s important to understand the difference between legal payments for labor that is paid in cash versus paying “under the table.” When an employer pays under the table, they are attempting to avoid financial consequences, like paying the required taxes out of your paycheck. So, if you are paid in cash, your employer is required to supply you with a paystub / statement to show that they made the correct withholdings and paid their share of the following:
- FICA, aka Social Security and Medicare
- Federal and state income taxes
- Unemployment insurance
- State unemployment insurance
- State disability insurance
- Workers’ compensation
- Overtime wages
- Any other employment benefits
If your employer does not pay these amounts on your behalf, they are liable for the penalties that are associated with these delinquencies. For example, your employer may be required to pay all your unpaid liabilities, along with $5,000 per misclassified employee and 20% of the worker’s social security withholdings. Employers can also face criminal prosecution following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
While much of the penalties are assessed to the employer, employees are also at risk when they accept payments under the table. Employees getting paid under this arrangement can lose their right to workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability benefits.
What If My Employer Insists on Paying Me in Cash?
As we mentioned before, the act of paying a worker in cash is not necessarily illegal. But it does complicate the process of ensuring accurate withholdings, like payroll taxes. Even if you paid in cash, employers must provide the following information via itemized pay statements, according to the California Labor Code Section 226(a):
- Total gross wages
- Net wages earned
- Employee’s hourly rate, if applicable
- Total number of worked hours (unless you are a salaried employee)
- If applicable, earned piece rate
- List of deductions
- Pay period dates
- Employee’s name and last 4 digits of their Social Security number
- Employer’s name and address
As you can see, the laws in California require that employees comply with specific employment laws, no matter how they transmit an employee’s wages. Employers must also keep accurate records of the information stated above to ensure there is a paper trail.
In conclusion, employers must follow specific guidelines under the California Labor Code if they decide to take the risk of paying workers in cash. You, as the employee, have the right to file a complaint and/or lawsuit and hold your employer accountable if they choose to break the law.
Can I Sue if My Employer Pays Under the Table?
You may have grounds to file a lawsuit against your employer and obtain monetary damages if you are being paid under the table. In order to sue your employer, you must establish that they are not in compliance with California Labor Code Section 226, like failing to provide itemized pay statements. You can also recover payments if your employer’s actions defrauded you out of overtime pay and other forms of compensation.
As someone who is eligible for a lawsuit, here are the damages that may be recovered:
- Unpaid Wages – this category includes wages the employer failed to pay, including overtime pay, i.e., the difference between your regular rate and the applicable overtime pay rate.
- Interest – you may qualify to receive interest on the wages your employer failed to pay. Alternatively, you may be awarded liquidated damages in place of interest, which are meant to compensate victims for damages that cannot be easily quantified.
- Penalties – Along with unpaid wages, the employer is required by California law to pay waiting time penalties in the amount of 30 days of the employee’s unpaid wages.
Reach Out to an Experienced Employment Attorney
The legal system concerning employment laws can be very difficult to navigate, and it’s easy to make mistakes along the way that cost you the right to sue your employer. Our legal team is here to handle every aspect of your case, and we will not rest until you receive justice from your employer.
The first step is to contact us and learn about your rights and legal options. If you are interested in pursuing a legal action against your employer, you will not be asked to pay us for the cost of legal services. Upon the successful recovery of your settlement, our expenses are covered by the party you are suing. In other words, we only get paid by securing the compensation you deserve.
We look forward to hearing your story during a free consultation, so give us a call at your earliest opportunity.
