Multi-level marketing (MLM) opportunities are often promoted with polished income charts, impressive rank titles, and the message that meaningful earnings are within reach for anyone willing to “work hard.” What is far less visible is what the income disclosures often...

Being called an “independent contractor” or a "1099 worker" can sound empowering: you’re your own boss, you set your own hours, you’re an entrepreneur. But when that label doesn’t match the reality of your work, it can cost you more than it's worth. California’s...

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I really a contractor, or is this actually just a job?” you’re not alone. Delivery apps, “1099” sales roles, “flex” warehouse shifts, and “independent” event work have all blurred the line between employee and contractor. The label might...

A lot of wage theft in California doesn’t look dramatic. It looks like a few minutes here, ten minutes there, a time clock that’s “not on yet,” a manager who “fixes” your hours later, or a system that always seems to round in the company’s favor. On paper, your time...

Many employers act like training is separate from “real work.” But under wage and hour rules, time spent in meetings, lectures, and training is often work time...and work time is supposed to be paid. This article walks through the basic rules, common situations where...