Unpaid overtime is such a frustrating and costly problem for many American workers. You can imagine how irritating and demoralizing it feels to open your paycheck only to find much fewer hours and pay than you earned. This often occurs whenever your employer fails to include all hours you worked and/or fails to pay you the legally correct overtime rate. You should not tolerate any employer paying you less than the full wages you have earned.
What Causes Unpaid Overtime?
Unpaid overtime is one of the most common forms of unpaid wages today. This happens whenever an employer fails to pay the legally mandated overtime rate of pay which is most often 1.5 times your hourly rate for all work you perform beyond 40 hours per week. In some states, the state wage laws mandate additional overtime payments for hours worked on a specific day. California is one of these states. You should contact us directly if you have questions about daily overtime payment.
It is possible for employers to mistakenly pay you the wrong overtime wages. However, the employer should immediately correct any error as soon as the employer learns of it. You should understand that you will likely need to retain an employment lawyer to obtain the overtime pay the employer owes you if the employer fails to immediately pay you the overtime wages you have earned. Employers generally will intentionally deduct hours or manipulate time cards to reduce their payroll expenses. Employers will also “miscalculate” overtime pay due to escape paying overtime wages. It is illegal for the employer to fail to pay its employees for all wages earned including overtime pay.
4 Ways an Employment Lawyer Can Help You Get Paid for Lost Overtime
Thankfully, there are several effective ways you can collect unpaid overtime pay by working with a good lawyer. These are four great benefits.
- An attorney can help you understand your rights. If you don’t know you’re entitled to overtime pay, how would you know to fight for it?
- An attorney can help you determine whether you have a case worth pursuing against your employer.
- An attorney can help you gather the facts of your case and speak to your employer about finding ways to resolve your case.
- Your attorney can help you prosecute your unpaid wages case which often means taking your case to court.
Unpaid Overtime: Don’t Tolerate This Violation of Your Rights
It doesn’t matter whether losing your overtime pay results from a minor error or gross misfeasance. You have the right to be paid for all time you work including overtime.
The federal overtime law is called the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). Many states also have individual wage payment laws which require overtime payment. Your employment lawyer will explain to you the federal and state laws regarding your case, and how to use these laws to maximize your wage recovery.
Please contact us here at Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC for a free consultation regarding unpaid wages. We have vast experience in recovering unpaid wages for tens of thousands of employees, often against some of the largest employers in the United States. We can assist you in recovering unpaid wages including overtime wherever you work or live.