Looking for a Studio City employment lawyer? Abramson Labor Group represents employees, never employers, in wrongful termination, wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation cases. We work on contingency. Studio City is part of Los Angeles, so city wage and sick leave rules apply here. We serve Studio City workers from our only office, in nearby Burbank.
4.5 stars across 1,900+ Google reviews. No fees unless we win.
Why Studio City Workers Choose Abramson Labor Group
Workers choose us because we represent only employees and can point to documented results.
- We take cases for workers, so we never represent companies.
- More than 1,900 Google reviewers give us an average of 4.5 stars (as of Sept 2026).
- Our case results include $1.7 million for a wrongful termination client. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
- Founding partner Zev Abramson earned spots on the Top 100 Jury Verdicts of California (2020) and the Top 100 U.S. Labor and Employment list (2024).
- Spanish-speaking clients can work with us from intake to resolution, and our intake team also assesses cases in Armenian.
What Wage and Hour Rules Apply in Studio City?
City of Los Angeles rules apply in Studio City on top of state law. Studio City is a Los Angeles neighborhood with its own city neighborhood council. They cover anyone who works at least two hours in a week inside city limits, whatever their immigration status. Burbank is a separate city, so these rules stop at the Burbank line. To check a workplace address, use the City’s boundary lookup.
| Rule | Studio City (City of Los Angeles) | State minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $18.42 an hour since July 1, 2026 (Office of Wage Standards) | $16.90 an hour in 2026 (DIR) |
| Paid sick leave | 48 hours a year up front, or 1 hour per 30 hours worked; use can be capped at 48 hours (OWS) | 40 hours or 5 days a year, whichever is more (Labor Commissioner) |
| Retail schedules | Large retailers post schedules 14 days ahead (Fair Work Week) | No City rule outside city limits |
If your employer pays less than the City requires, you can file a complaint with the Office of Wage Standards or sue. You can recover unpaid wages and sick pay, plus up to $120 per day of violation (OWS). Our Los Angeles minimum wage guide compares the city, county, and state rates.
What Protects Restaurant and Retail Workers on Ventura Boulevard?
Restaurant and shop workers inside city limits earn at least the City minimum wage. Retailers with 300 or more employees worldwide must also follow the Fair Work Week Ordinance. They post your schedule 14 days ahead and owe predictability pay for many late changes. An opening shift less than 10 hours after a closing shift needs your written consent and pays time and a half.
Each workday your employer fails to provide a required meal or rest period, it owes one extra hour of pay (Labor Code section 226.7). See our guide to California meal and rest break requirements.
What Rights Do Studio and Entertainment Workers Have?
Wage Order 12 sets the wage, hour, and working rules for the motion picture industry. A “freelance” label does not decide your status. Under Labor Code section 2775, you are an employee unless the company proves all three parts of the ABC test. Section 2778 carves out some professional services, including certain freelance photographers and videographers, but not those who work on film, TV, commercials or music videos.
True freelancers have payment rights too. State law covers professional services contracts of $250 or more signed since January 1, 2025. The City’s ordinance covers contracts of $600 or more from July 1, 2023 (OWS). The City still reviews contracts that state law does not cover. Read more about entertainment workers’ rights in California.
When Is a Studio City Firing Wrongful Termination?
An at-will job still cannot end for an illegal reason, like discrimination, a pay complaint, or protected leave. The City also bars retaliation against workers who use their minimum wage or sick leave rights (OWS). Learn more on our wrongful termination page.
Are Employment Agreements and Non-Competes Enforceable?
Most employee non-competes are void in California. Business and Professions Code section 16600 voids any noncompete in an employment context “no matter how narrowly tailored,” unless a listed exception applies. See our guide to California non-compete agreements. A severance agreement usually trades money for a release of your claims. Consider speaking with an employment attorney before you sign.
How Long Do I Have to Act?
Discrimination and harassment claims generally allow three years to file with the Civil Rights Department (Government Code section 12960). Claims for minimum wage, overtime, missed breaks, and sick leave generally have three years too (Labor Commissioner). Other claims have shorter clocks, covered in our guide to the wrongful termination statute of limitations. Older pay periods can fall outside these windows, so consider speaking with an employment attorney early.
What to Look For in a Studio City Employment Lawyer
Look for a firm that knows City of Los Angeles ordinances and works only for employees.
- Represents employees only, never companies.
- Handles City ordinance claims as well as state law claims.
- Has results in your type of case.
- Works on contingency, with nothing due up front.
Employment Cases We Handle for Studio City Workers
- Wage and overtime claims, including City minimum wage and sick pay.
- Retaliation for reporting pay, safety, or harassment problems.
- Sexual harassment on set, at work, or online.
- Disability discrimination and denied accommodations.
Serving Studio City and Nearby Neighborhoods
We represent workers in Studio City, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, and Toluca Lake. For specific claims, see our Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer, age discrimination lawyer, and pregnancy discrimination lawyer pages. Next door, see our Burbank employment lawyer page. For the rest of the city, see our Los Angeles employment lawyers page. For the state laws behind every claim, visit our California employment lawyers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Los Angeles minimum wage apply in Studio City?
Yes. The City rate has been $18.42 an hour since July 1, 2026 (OWS). It covers anyone who works at least two hours a week in city limits. Hours you work outside city limits fall under the state rate or any local rate there.
Do I need a Studio City lawyer, or can a Burbank firm handle my case?
A Burbank firm can handle it. We represent employees across California from Burbank. We apply the Los Angeles rules that govern your Studio City hours.
How much does a Studio City employment lawyer cost?
We work on contingency, so you do not pay anything unless we win. Your case evaluation is free, and you will not pay for legal counsel or court fees out of pocket. Our fee is a share of any settlement or verdict, and if there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fees.
Can I be fired for complaining about my pay?
No. Labor Code section 98.6 bars retaliation for asserting wage rights. Action against you within 90 days of a complaint is presumed to be retaliation. Your employer can try to rebut it.
Request a Free Studio City Employment Law Case Review
We can review your pay records or firing and explain your options in plain terms. Request a free case review, contact us, or call (213) 493-6300. You do not pay ANYTHING unless we win!
Last updated: October 2026
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Contacting Abramson Labor Group does not create an attorney-client relationship.