Tools / Help
Where to get real help
This site is general information. At some point general information stops being enough. These are the places to go, most of them free.
If this week feels like too much
Losing a job is one of the most stressful things that can happen. You can call or text 988 any time to talk with someone, free. Dial 211 for local help with food, rent and bills. The rest of this page will still be here.
Situations where people commonly get advice
- A deadline is within two weeks.
- You are 40 or over and were not given 21 days, or 45 in a group layoff, plus 7 days to revoke.
- You raised a concern about something you believed was unlawful shortly before this began.
- You requested or took a protected leave, or disclosed a medical condition or pregnancy, shortly before.
- The amount at stake is more than a few weeks of pay.
- The agreement changed after you first saw it and nobody will tell you what changed.
Unpaid wages, final pay, waiting time penalties
- California Labor Commissioner (DLSE)Free. File a wage claim using DLSE Form 1, the Initial Report or Claim. Handles unpaid wages, final pay, waiting time penalties, meal and rest premiums, and failure to provide records.
- DLSE: How to file a wage claimStep-by-step, with the filing periods for each claim type.
Discrimination, harassment, retaliation
- California Civil Rights DepartmentFree. Three years from the last act to file an intake in employment cases. Can issue a right-to-sue notice, after which you have one year to file suit.
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionFree. 300 days in California for most charges. That is much shorter than the state deadline, so the two clocks are worth tracking separately.
- Labor Commissioner retaliation unitOne year under Labor Code 98.7(a)(1) for retaliation complaints.
Unemployment and benefits
- EDD unemploymentMany people file in the first days after their last day. There is a one-week unpaid waiting period.
- EDD appeals30 days from the mailing date of a determination to appeal.
- Covered CaliforniaLosing job-based coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period. Many people compare its price with COBRA before choosing.
Free and low-cost legal help
- LawHelpCAThe statewide directory of free legal aid, by county and issue. The best single starting point.
- California Courts self-helpOfficial plain-language guides, including small claims, which can be used for some wage amounts.
- State Bar lawyer referral servicesCertified referral services. Many offer a low-cost initial consultation.
- Legal Aid at WorkNonprofit, worker-focused, with free information lines on several employment topics.
Food, rent, bills and emotional support
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifelineFree and available 24/7. Call or text 988, or chat online. For anyone going through a hard moment, not only a crisis.
- 211 CaliforniaFree. Dial 211 to reach local help with food, housing, utility bills and other essentials.
- GetCalFreshExplains CalFresh food benefits, which many people qualify for after a job loss, and points to the official application.
Layoff support
- EDD jobs and trainingFree job search help and training for job seekers, including laid-off workers, with a local office finder.
- America’s Job Center of CaliforniaLocal in-person help with job search, training and benefits.
About consultations
Many California employment lawyers offer a free or flat-fee initial consultation, and many work on contingency for the kinds of claims that have real value. An hour of advice before you sign is often worth more than many hours after.
Bring the agreement, every version you have, the cover emails with dates, your last few pay statements, and a one-page timeline. Lawyers can help you far faster when the documents are organized.
This site is not legal advice
Right to a Final Copy is a public education campaign founded by an enrolled agent, not a law firm. Nothing here is legal advice, nothing creates a professional relationship, and we cannot take your case or review your documents. We do not accept referral fees or compensation from any firm or service listed on this page.