Free help with a work problem in the Bay Area

This is a list of places to call. It is general information, not legal advice, and DNLH is not a law office. For your rights at work in one place, see Your rights at work, with or without papers.

Who handles my problem?

Find your problem, then call the place next to it. If you have more than one problem, start with a free clinic. It can sort them out with you.

The Labor Commissioner says California's labor laws protect all workers whatever their immigration status, and it does not ask about status. The Civil Rights Department says the same for discrimination and harassment.

Where can I get free legal advice?

Legal Aid at Work, Workers' Rights Clinic

A free, confidential clinic that gives information about your legal rights at work in California, for low income and unemployed people.

• Phone to book: (415) 404-9093. This line serves the East Palo Alto, San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland, and Antioch sites. Workers elsewhere in California can also use it.
• Line hours: Monday to Friday, 9 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 4 p.m.
• Closed: the clinic lists recess periods, including November 23 to December 7 and December 21 to January 4. Call before or after those dates.
• Languages: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and many others.
• Who it serves: people with incomes at or below its limits, plus anyone age 60 or older or with a developmental disability, whatever their income. For example, the limit is $39,125 a year for one person and $80,375 for a family of four.
• Good to know: all sites give the same help, so book only one until after your first visit. Some sites may offer phone appointments. You will usually talk with a law student, paralegal or trained staff member supervised by employment lawyers, not with a lawyer directly. The clinic gives legal information and referrals. It does not represent you or take your case (clinic FAQ, updated October 2024).

Workers' Rights Clinic (Legal Aid at Work)

Legal Aid at Work, Language Rights Helpline

For people treated unfairly at work because of their language, accent or English, including English only rules.

• Phone: 1-800-864-1664. Leave a message with your problem and how to reach you, or use the online form. It tries to call back within 3 business days.
• Languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.
• Online: a contact form is on its page.
• Free and confidential for people who meet Legal Aid at Work's guidelines.

Language Rights Helpline (Legal Aid at Work). See also Can my employer require English only at work?

Legal Aid at Work, Work and Family Helpline

For working parents, pregnant workers, family caregivers and people caring for their own health, about time off, paid leave and changes at work.

• Phone: 800-880-8047 in California. Outside California: 415-593-0033.
• Languages: English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and others.
• Leave your name, number and the best time to call. A counselor calls back, usually within 2 to 3 business days. You can also use its online form.
• Free for people who meet Legal Aid at Work's guidelines.

Work and Family Helpline (Legal Aid at Work)

Legal Aid at Work, Project SURVIVE Helpline

For survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking who need to keep a job, take time off or ask for changes at work.

• Phone: 888-864-8335. Leave a voicemail. It aims to call back in 2 to 3 business days.
• Free and confidential for people who meet its guidelines.

Project SURVIVE (Legal Aid at Work). See also Your job rights as a survivor of abuse.

What public offices can help?

You can contact these offices yourself. You do not need a lawyer to call. Several offer phone interpreters.

• California Labor Commissioner (DLSE): wage claims, retaliation, breaks, sick pay. 833-526-4636, with interpreters. There is no office in San Mateo County. The nearest offices are in San Jose (224 Airport Parkway, Suite 300, (408) 277-1266), San Francisco and Oakland. Office list
• California Civil Rights Department: discrimination, harassment and retaliation for complaining about them. 800-884-1684, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; deaf or hard of hearing: 711 relay or TTY 800-700-2320. File online, by email, mail, phone or in person. Employment
• Cal/OSHA: unsafe work and heat. Interpreter line 833-579-0927. By law, it must keep your name confidential unless you ask otherwise. Safety complaint
• Division of Workers' Compensation, Information and Assistance: questions about a work injury claim. 1-800-736-7401. Information and Assistance
• U.S. Department of Justice, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section: I-9 and papers discrimination, citizenship status discrimination. 1-800-255-7688 (TTY 711). IER
• EDD: Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave, which you can apply for without a Social Security number on a paper form. EDD for undocumented workers. See Disability and Paid Family Leave without papers

What local offices help in San Mateo County?

• San Mateo County Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE): enforces the minimum wage in unincorporated San Mateo County and in cities that contract with it: Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Menlo Park, Redwood City and San Mateo. Free, confidential Labor Advice Hotline 1-866-870-7725, or email olse@smcgov.org. Office at 500 County Center, 5th Floor, Redwood City. OLSE (San Mateo County)
• East Palo Alto workers: the Legal Aid at Work clinic line (415) 404-9093 covers the East Palo Alto site. For the city minimum wage, see Minimum wage.
• Immigration questions before you file: Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA), 1861 Bay Road, (650) 326-6440, walk in Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

What about Santa Clara County?

• Legal Aid at Work clinic: call (415) 404-9093 to book.
• Labor Commissioner, San Jose office: 224 Airport Parkway, Suite 300, San Jose, (408) 277-1266. Call first to ask about walk in help.
• Your city's minimum wage: some cities enforce their own. See Minimum wage.

Can I get help in my language?

Yes, in many places. The Labor Commissioner, Cal/OSHA and Workers' Compensation lines offer phone interpreters. The Civil Rights Department has intake forms in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Punjabi. Legal Aid at Work helps in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese and many other languages. Ask for an interpreter at the start of the call.

Will they ask about my immigration status?

The Labor Commissioner says it does not ask about immigration status. The Civil Rights Department says the same. Clinics do not need your status to talk about your work rights. Do not write your status on any form unless a lawyer tells you to.

If you are worried, call a clinic first, and ask whether they can also answer immigration questions. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

What should I have ready when I call?

• Your employer's business name and address, and your boss's name
• The dates you started and stopped working, if you left
• Your pay rate and how you were paid (cash, check, deposit or app)
• A short timeline of what happened, with dates
• Pay stubs, texts, schedules or photos, if you have them
• Any letter or notice you got from your employer or an agency, especially anything with a deadline

You do not need every paper to call. Your own notes count.

What about a private lawyer?

Some employment lawyers take cases without charging up front and get paid only if you win. A clinic can tell you if your case is one a lawyer might take. Read the agreement before you sign it. See Do I need a lawyer for a case against my employer?

Questions people ask

I do not know which problem I have. Who do I call? Call the Legal Aid at Work clinic at (415) 404-9093. Sorting problems out is part of what a clinic does.

I earn more than the clinic's limit. Where else can I go? Public offices have no income limit. You can file with the Labor Commissioner or the Civil Rights Department on your own. You can also ask a private lawyer about a free first meeting.

I still work there. Can I get help without my boss finding out? Calling a clinic is confidential. If you file a claim, your employer will usually be told about it. Ask the clinic how to protect yourself, and read What counts as illegal retaliation at work.

The clinic is closed this week. What now? Write down what happened and your dates now. If a deadline is close, call the public office for your problem directly.

Where can I find other services, like food or rent help, while this is going on? In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, dial 211 for free help finding local services. 211 does not cover every California county. See also Food help.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Every place on this page is listed above with its phone number and link. If you remember just one number, make it the Legal Aid at Work clinic line, (415) 404-9093. If you are in danger at work, call 911.

Work problems can feel heavy, especially when your family depends on that paycheck. Help is closer than it feels. Make one call this week.

Is there a sheet I can print?