Law Office of Bernadette Bautista – Justice for Every Hour Worked

Q: 2. They didn’t pay me for overtime or when I was on call — can I sue?

Yes. Most domestic workers are entitled to overtime pay : After 9 hours/day or 45 hours/week for personal attendants (like live-in caregivers) After 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week for other domestic workers Also, if you were on call but still under your employer’s control, that time counts as work.

I fight for justice for domestic workers

If you’ve worked 24-hour shifts without proper pay, missed breaks, been paid flat rates, or done unpaid off-the-clock chores—you’re not alone. Let’s fight back together.

Who I represent

champion nannies, live‑in caregivers, housekeepers, and other domestic workers across Southern California. I take cases where workers:

Weren’t paid for all hours worked

Worked 24-hour/on-call shifts without proper pay

Received illegal flat day rates

Didn’t get meal or rest breaks

Not just legal help — real support

You’re not just looking for a lawyer — you’re looking for someone who understands your story, speaks your language, and knows how to win. I combine legal expertise with lived experience to stand up for domestic workers across Southern California. Here’s what you can count on:

Experienced Representation: Years of dedicated legal work fighting for underpaid workers across California.
Bilingual Support (English & Spanish): We speak your language — literally. No need for translation or explanation.
Focused on Domestic Workers: We know your rights, your challenges, and how to win your case.
Serving All of Southern California: Wherever you are in SoCal, we’re here to help.

You deserve more than just legal help — you deserve someone who understands your experience, speaks your language, and is committed to getting results.

What We Offer

Why domestic workers choose me

I don’t just understand the law — I understand your life. From cultural insight to courtroom results, here’s what makes my firm different.

Cultural understanding

I come from a migrant household—I speak your language and know your world.

Paper-trail detectives

We uncover hidden evidence like Venmo logs and messages.

Proven results

Thousands recovered for live-in caretakers and housekeepers.

Total privacy

Your immigration status is protected under California law.

Practice Areas

What I can help you with

If you’ve worked hard but weren’t paid fairly, you may have legal rights. I help domestic workers recover unpaid wages, demand fair treatment, and hold employers accountable.

Unpaid wages

Not getting paid for all the hours you work?
Whether your employer “forgets” to pay you for prep, cleanup, or extra hours — you're legally entitled to full compensation for every minute you work.

24-hour / on-call shifts

Worked overnight without proper pay?
Many live-in caregivers and domestic workers are illegally underpaid during 24-hour shifts. If you’re on-call but not truly “off duty,” you may be owed significant back wages.

Flat daily rates

Paid the same amount no matter how long you work?
Flat daily or weekly pay that doesn’t meet minimum wage and overtime laws is illegal. You’re owed hourly wages — including time-and-a-half overtime when eligible.

Meal & rest break violations

Didn’t get your breaks?
You must receive a 30-minute meal break if you work more than 5 hours and a 10-minute rest break every 4 hours. If these breaks aren’t given, you're owed an hour’s extra pay for each violation.

Off-the-clock work

Doing chores before or after your shift — unpaid?
Any time spent cooking, cleaning, running errands, or preparing for your day must be compensated. If your employer expects this work but doesn’t pay you, it’s a violation of labor laws.

FAQs

Your legal questions answered

You have rights—even if you’re undocumented or paid in cash. Here are answers to the most common questions domestic workers ask us.

1. Can I still get paid even if I’m undocumented?

Yes. Your immigration status does not affect your right to fair wages in California. All workers—no matter where you’re from or your legal status—are protected by state labor laws.

2. They didn’t pay me for overtime or when I was on call — can I sue?

Yes. Most domestic workers are entitled to overtime pay:

After 9 hours/day or 45 hours/week for personal attendants (like live-in caregivers)
After 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week for other domestic workers
Also, if you were on call but still under your employer’s control, that time counts as work.

3. Is a flat daily rate legal?

No. Flat rates that don’t meet minimum wage and overtime requirements are illegal. You’re owed hourly pay plus overtime if you worked extra hours, even if you were paid a set amount per day or week.

4. What if I didn’t get meal or rest breaks?

You’re owed extra pay. If you worked more than 5 hours without a 30-minute meal break or didn’t get a 10-minute rest break every 4 hours, your employer must pay you one extra hour of wages per missed break.

5. They made me do chores off the clock — is that allowed?

No. Time spent doing prep work, cleaning, cooking, or running errands before or after your official shift must be paid. Employers cannot expect free labor — even for small tasks.

An advocate who understands your story — and fights to make sure it’s heard.

Meet attorney Bernadette Bautista

Bernadette Bautista is a fierce advocate for domestic workers, live-in caregivers, and hourly workers across California. Raised in a Guatemalan and Salvadoran immigrant household, she understands the struggles of hard-working people who are too often overlooked or underpaid.

Bernadette has helped hundreds of workers — from hotel staff and agricultural laborers to taxi drivers and nannies — recover unpaid wages, demand justice, and reclaim their dignity. Her approach is compassionate, culturally informed, and results-driven.

Disability Rights California
California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law
Women’s Shelter of Long Beach

Testimonial

Client stories

★★★★★
“Thanks to Bernadette, I finally got paid for all the hours I worked as a live-in nanny, even the ones they tried to ignore.”

★★★★★
“Bernadette stood by me through the hearing and made sure I recovered the wages I was owed as both a nanny and housekeeper.”

★★★★★
“She listened, she explained everything, and she fought for me. I never thought I’d get that money back — but I did.”

Contact

Get the wages you deserve

You work hard. You deserve to be paid fairly. Let’s make it right — together.