Workplace rights for Tustin employees
Tustin had an estimated 77,843 residents in July 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with 80,276 in the 2020 Census. About 69.6% of residents age 16 and older are in the civilian labor force, and the average one-way commute is 22.8 minutes. The city's largest employers range from Tustin Unified School District and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union to Costco, Rivian and Foothill Regional Medical Center.
Tustin's main industries and the claims they lead to
Retail. Retail businesses in Tustin recorded about $3.70 billion in sales in 2022, per the Census Bureau, with The Market Place and a Costco that employs 749 people among the city's anchors. Retail workers often raise missed meal and rest breaks, unpaid overtime, and retaliation after complaining about schedules or pay.
Health care. Health care and social assistance businesses in Tustin reported about $767.2 million in revenue in 2022, and Foothill Regional Medical Center lists 450 employees. Nurses, technicians and caregivers commonly come to us about interrupted breaks on long shifts, off-the-clock work, and disputes over medical leave or disability accommodations.
Finance, tech and manufacturing. Tustin's top employers include SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union with 1,089 employees, New American Funding with 412, Rivian with 500 and Virgin Galactic with 339. Office and engineering staff in these settings often bring claims involving misclassification as exempt, unpaid overtime, disability accommodation and wrongful termination.
Working for a public employer in Tustin
Tustin Unified School District is the city's largest employer with 2,491 employees, and the City of Tustin employs 440 people. Orange County agencies and nearby state offices also employ many residents. Claims against a public employer often require filing a government claim before you can sue, and the deadlines can be much shorter than for private employers.
Where Tustin employment claims are filed
Discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims usually start with a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD). Wage claims can go to the Labor Commissioner's Santa Ana office at 2 MacArthur Place, Suite 800, Santa Ana, CA 92707. Lawsuits are filed in Orange County Superior Court, where unlimited civil cases are generally heard at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. We'll tell you which route is likely to recover the most for you, and handle the filing.
