Employees who think that their employer has made an unlawful deduction from their wages can: file a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner’s Office at the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or hire a law firm and file a wage and hour lawsuit in court. These claims aim to recover: unpaid wages from the unlawful deduction, and waiting time penalties. If the employer retaliates against an employee for filing a claim over unlawfully deducted wages, the employee can file a retaliation claim or lawsuit, as well.