I had been employed with (delete) for 4 1/2 years. The real estate market is very bad, as we know. Anyway 5 hours notice they shut down all remaining offices in California.

Pay checks were delivered to our homes. The pay stub showed accrued vacation hours (mine 168) and no pay. Also, I had earned a bonus in November of $2,840.00, not paid either. Than there is the employment contract I had with 2 1/2 years left on it (yeah I know that is gone) no way to get that money.

Parent Company, (deleted) , still going strong with at least 10 other entities out of Denver Colorado. They filed Bankruptcy, I understand this negates the employment contract I and others had, BUT don't they have to pay us earned bonuses and earned vacation pay?

Anyone who can offer advise on how to proceed, I and many others will be eternally greatfull! There is GOOD NEWS here......they did this in 2007, so the celebration and future of 2008...STILL BRIGHT!! ;)

File a wage claim with the CA Dept of Labor Standards Enforcement, first thing in the morning. You must hurry due to the bankruptcy case, make sure that you tell the DLSE.

Agree - you want to get your claim in as soon as possible.

You should also inform the DLSE of the number of employees who were laid off by the employer and inquire as to whether the event would trigger either or both the California and/or Federal WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification). Bankruptcies do not always protect employers from such violations.

DLSE Office locator:
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Cal-CitiesB.asp

Thank you!
Filled out all forms and I am attaching all paystubs, showing time lost and closing e-mail we received.
In California and Nevada there were over 200 offices and over 2500 employees.
Scary to think they have other companies they are running and also the people who were buying homes, selling, refinancing or trying to get out of a foreclosure situation. Their files are still stitting money and all documents still in them.
I think (delted) missed the class on Fiduciary Responsibility!
Again- Thank you all!!;)

Please do not include the name(s) of your employer(s) in your post. This is for your protection.