In CA, do your work hours start when your employer requires you to arrive?

I recently signed up to work an event with a company as a 1099 employee. They required me to show up at 3:00 to start setting up for the event and sign in etc, but didn't start my pay until 4:00pm. Is it just me, or aren't they required by law in CA to pay you from the time they required you to show to the office? Please advise, and if there is a link to the code or section, I would be most grateful.
Thank You.
Additional Details
Actually, they are a legitimate company, they put up ads on Craigslist to hire staff for events, then they tell you when to show up and later tell you your pay starts later than when you arrive. They pay everyone as a 1099. And yes, many labor laws in CA do apply to 1099 employees.

jobbend

If you are being told to show up at a specific time and are directed as to what work to do, then it is likely that you are being misclassified as a 1099 contractor, and are really a w-4 employee - and should be paid from the time the employer requires you to be at work. It also means that the company you are working with is, even if they classify you as a 1099 contractor, still legally responsible for paying taxes on your wages, and deducting taxes from your wages.

The IRS has a very simple and straightforward test that explains the difference between a contractor (1099), common-law employee, statutory employee and statutory non-employee are.

From your description you are a common-law employee.

michr

you are NOT an employee so labor laws do NOT apply to you
you are a contractor and your payment agreement is between you and the business........

most likely you are NOT legally an independent contractor but that is a totally different issue.
many if not most independent contractors are mis-classified, and are actually employees, but i digress........

EDIT:
you do not understand the concept of an independent contractor if you think the law covers you... this is directly from the state of California:

Q. Does it make any difference if I am an employee rather than an independent contractor?

A. Yes, it does make a difference if you are an employee rather than an independent contractor. Californiaâ€™s wage and hour laws (e.g., minimum wage, overtime, meal periods and rest breaks, etc.), and anti-discrimination and retaliation laws protect employees, ************but not independent contractors.**************
Additionally, employees can go to state agencies such as DLSE to seek enforcement of the law, whereas independent contractors must go to court to settle their disputes or enforce other rights under their contracts.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FAQ_IndependentContractor.htm

KortneeV

If they are a legal employer then, yes, they are required to pay you for that time. However, do you have proof that you were there at 3:00? (signed paper, a couple other employees who saw you) If not, I don't think you can take action. If you do, try contacting the Labor Relations Board. I provided you with a website, you can find all the information on there.

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