Your job means everything to you. Besides paying the bills, there is also satisfaction in enjoying the work you do. While you would expect that your employer would be fair and transparent at all levels, things are rarely ideal in the real world. Wage theft is way too common, and the simplest example is not getting the dues that you are entitled to, such as the minimum wage. Besides the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, there are state laws that state the minimum wage. If you think you are a victim of such violations, talking to one of the wage & hour lawyers is a good idea. Here are some key things that workers need to know.
Overtime
If you have hit the goal of working 40 hours a week and have been asked to put in more hours, you are entitled to overtime pay. There are exemptions as per the Fair Labor Standards Act, but you may not know much about the laws like an expert. While you may believe that you are getting a salary, and therefore, the question of overtime doesn’t arise, it is still wise to check with an attorney.
Employee misclassification
As an independent contractor, you don’t have the right to certain things, such as payroll taxes and workers’ compensation, although you have to pay payroll taxes to the IRS directly. Employers often rely on misclassification as a means to pay less to workers, and you need to understand the labels better. This is one of the few reasons why you need to have a lawyer in the first place.
Minimum wage violations
You are entitled to the highest rate of pay as per federal and state minimum wages, whichever is higher. If you don’t get the minimum wage set by your state, you have the right to be suspicious. Because people are often in need of jobs, they end up accepting whatever is being offered, and when you are a victim of circumstances, never allow an employer to exploit that. Talk to a lawyer immediately.
Working outside work hours
Employees are often asked to continue work after the set hours or before the due time without paying them more, and that is a violation of the wage and hour law. You may also have a case if you are being asked during lunch hours without additional pay.
You could also be dealing with a situation where you have unnecessary or unexplained deductions from your paystubs. Check with a lawyer to know more.