Abramson Labor Group represents Fresno employees in unpaid wages and overtime, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation, on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we win. Fresno sits at the center of the country’s biggest farm economy, and field, packing-house, and food-processing jobs come with their own rules on overtime, heat, and who counts as your employer. The Fresno County Superior Court hears the city’s civil cases at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse downtown.

Why Fresno Employees Choose Abramson Labor Group

  • We represent employees only. We do no employer or corporate defense work, so we never have a conflict of interest with the people we fight.
  • 4.5 stars across more than 1,900 Google reviews (as of September 2026).
  • Our documented results include $1.7 million for a wrongful termination client and $380,000 in a retaliation and racial discrimination case. See our case results.
  • Founding partner Zev Abramson belongs to the California Employment Lawyers Association and earned recognition among the Top 100 U.S. Labor and Employment attorneys (2024).
  • We offer consultations and representation in English and Spanish, with intake assessments in Armenian.
  • We understand seasonal and contractor-staffed work, where crew lists, pay records, and heat logs decide the case.

Signs Your Employer Is Breaking the Law in Fresno

Many Fresno workers put up with conditions that are actually illegal, not because they do not care, but because no one told them the rules. Fresno has no local minimum wage, so the state rate of $16.90 per hour applies as of January 1, 2026 (California Department of Industrial Relations). These are the warning signs we see most.

Your farm overtime still starts after 10 hours

California finished phasing in farmworker overtime on January 1, 2025. Every agricultural employer, large or small, now owes 1.5 times your regular rate after 8 hours in a workday or 40 in a workweek, and double time after 12 hours in a day (California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Code sections 860-862). If your crew still gets overtime only after 10 hours, your employer is using a rule that expired.

There is no shade once it passes 80 degrees

Outdoor employers must provide shade when the temperature tops 80 degrees and let you take a cool-down rest whenever you need one (Cal/OSHA, 8 CCR section 3395). At 95 degrees or above, agricultural employers must also make sure you take a 10-minute cool-down rest every two hours (Cal/OSHA high-heat guidance). When an employer denies a required heat recovery period, it owes you an extra hour of pay for that day (Labor Code section 226.7).

A labor contractor hired you, and the grower says you are not its problem

Many field and packing crews come through labor contractors. When a business uses contractor-supplied workers in its usual line of work, it shares legal responsibility for their wages and for workers’ compensation coverage (Labor Code section 2810.3). The rule covers businesses with at least 25 workers and more than five contractor-supplied workers, which includes most large farms and processors. You can pursue the contractor and the business together.

You were let go after you spoke up

You complained about short pay, reported missing shade, or filed an injury claim, and the season suddenly ended early for you. Your employer cannot punish you for asserting a Labor Code right (Labor Code section 98.6) or for filing a workers’ compensation claim (Labor Code section 132a). Seasonal status does not remove that protection.

Not sure whether you have a case? A free, confidential review takes one call.

What to Look For in a Fresno Employment Lawyer

  • Employee-side focus. A firm that also defends employers has divided loyalties. Ask who they represent.
  • Agricultural wage experience. Farm overtime, heat rules, and contractor liability differ from standard wage cases. Ask whether the firm has handled them.
  • Service in Spanish. You should be able to explain what happened, and understand your options, in the language you use every day.
  • Contingency representation. Employee-side firms should carry the financial risk, so you pay nothing unless you recover.

Which Court Hears Fresno Employment Cases

The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, hears both limited and unlimited civil cases at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse, 1130 O Street, Fresno, CA 93721. You do not need to visit the courthouse to start a case. We handle the filing, and most matters resolve without you ever appearing in court.

Employment Cases We Handle for Fresno Workers

Serving Fresno and Nearby Communities

We represent employees across Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley, including Clovis, Sanger, and Selma, and in nearby Modesto, Bakersfield, and Stockton. For our full statewide reach, see our California employment lawyers page.

Frequently Asked Questions

I work in agriculture. Do I get overtime after 8 hours?

Yes. Since January 1, 2025, every agricultural employer owes 1.5 times your regular rate after 8 hours in a workday or 40 in a workweek, and double time after 12 hours in a day (California Department of Industrial Relations). The older 10-hour rule no longer applies to any farm employer.

A labor contractor pays me. Can I hold the farm or packer responsible?

Often, yes. A business that uses contractor-supplied workers in its usual line of work shares responsibility for their wages and workers’ compensation coverage, as long as it has at least 25 workers and more than five come from contractors (Labor Code section 2810.3). The law requires 30 days’ notice to the business before you sue it, which we handle.

I am undocumented. Can I still file a claim?

Yes. Your right to minimum wage, overtime, shade, and breaks does not depend on your papers. An employer that threatens to report a worker’s status because the worker complained commits an unlawful adverse action (Labor Code section 244), and a threat to call immigration authorities can cost the employer up to $10,000 per violation (Labor Code section 1019.1).

How much does a Fresno employment lawyer cost?

Nothing up front. We work on contingency, so you do not pay anything unless we win. The case evaluation is free, we charge no retainer or hourly fee, and you will not pay for legal counsel or court fees out of pocket. Our fee is a share of any settlement or verdict. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees.

Request a Free Fresno Employment Law Case Review

Seasons end fast, and legal deadlines keep running after the harvest. Call (213) 493-6300 or request a free case review while the pay stubs and crew records are still easy to find. The consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation. You do not pay ANYTHING unless we win!

Last updated: September 2026. This page offers general information, not legal advice. For advice about your situation, speak with a licensed California employment attorney.