No group of workers is safe from wage theft, but you might be more vulnerable to it if you are a low-wage employee. Sometimes, receiving lower wages than expected might be a human error, and talking to HR about the issue can fix this. But other times, lower salaries are given to employees intentionally. To make more profit, businesses cut down employees’ salaries which is illegal and unprofessional.
If you or your kin work for any business that pays low wages to employers intentionally every month, you should not take this lightly. If minimum wage law is not given or you are not receiving bonuses for overtime, you should consult a professional lawyer from a reputed Autrey Law Firm. The United States has a labor law, and you should exercise your rights to protect your interests. If you need to learn about your options, stay with us till the end.
Fair Labor Standard act
The FLSA (Fair standard labor act) applies to public and private entities. The act states the rule for both full-time and part-time workers. Rules and regulations about overtime pay, minimum wage, child labor, and many more are stated in this act.
The law states 40 hours of work time weekly for any employee. If employees’ working hours transcend this threshold, they will get extra compensation from the employer. The worker must maintain the attendance record form to substantiate the claim legally.
The labor department sets the overtime criteria, and the agencies decide the eligibility of employees for overtime. The labor law protects the workers’ rights and ensures they get fair pay. Despite having a legal body to regulate fair pay, employers still underpaid workers.
Types of Wage theft
There are many ways in which a worker becomes a victim of wage theft. Consult a renowned agency like Autrey Law Firm if you think you are a victim. Following are some common types of wage theft.
- Overtime
Getting compensation for overtime is the legal right of any employee. If a worker works more than 40 hours per week and the employer is not paying the extra compensation, the employer is liable for wage theft. However, exempt employees and independent contractors are exceptions to this law.
- Duty on weekends
Duty on weekends is an extension of the overtime pay. Sometimes, when an organization goes through a crisis or needs work done immediately, they might ask the employees to report on the weekend. But they will have to be paid a bonus for their extra duty. It is wage theft if the organization refuses to pay compensation for duty on weekends.
- Full theft
Full theft is when the organization refuses to pay a single penny to the employee for all their work. Full theft is a complete violation of the law, and the organization must face its actions’ consequences.
End Takeaway There are multiple types of wage theft. Consulting a professional company like Autrey Law Firm will help you to know your rights and get what you deserve. Be bold and consult if you think you are underpaid.