It is easier than you think if you are having problems at work and are considering taking legal action against your employer. Such legal action for unpaid wages is almost always necessary if you are considering filing an unpaid wages action.
Filing an unpaid wages claim will definitely get the employer’s attention even in instances where you have tried to reason with the employer and work out the problems you have to no avail. Often, it’s the only way.
6 Signs It’s Time To Take Legal Action Against Your Employer
We all have problems at work, but not everyone needs to take legal action against their employer. You may want to consider it if any of these things are happening to you.
- Unpaid Wages and Overtime
One of the most popular reasons for legal action against your employer is wage theft. Your employer is violating the law if it is paying less than minimum wage, if the employer is not paying overtime, or if the employer is making unreasonable deductions from your pay.
This happens all the time. Employers often think they can get away with it. Wage theft is a big problem. Don’t wait too long to take action and get the money that you have earned.
- Discrimination
Discrimination is illegal. If you feel you lost a job or a promotion because of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information, you can take legal action.
These lists are actually growing as new protected classes are added. Some states also allow marital status, political affiliation, and health issues. If you believe this has happened to you, get legal advice.
- Withholding Money
You can take legal action against your employer if it refuses to pay you the money they owe you. This might be from a bonus you earned, unused holiday pay, any paid leave, like sick time or maternity leave, or wages including your final paycheck when you leave a job.
You likely have a legal case if the employer fails to pay you the wages you have earned. Any time your employer withholds money it owes you, whether the employer is punishing you or any other reason, you should talk to an employment lawyer.
- Wrongful Dismissal
If you are fired from your job and you feel it was illegal, you may take legal action against your employer. Employers cannot terminate your employment for illegal reasons.
Some of these reasons include the employer owing you money and you complained about it, are not honoring your contract, whistleblowing, filing a wage claim, sexual harassment, or any other reason that is based upon a protected characteristic like your race or gender, or the fact that you complained about your employer taking action which you believe is illegal.
- Workplace Hostility
You likely have a legal claim if you are experiencing bad problems with your manager, upper management, and/or co-workers such that this conduct changes how you do your job. You should immediately report this conduct to the employer; you can also take legal action against your employer if it retaliates against you for reporting this conduct. Legally, once the employer knows of the harassing conduct, then the employer has to take action to end the illegal conduct. The employer has a legal duty to provide a safe space for everyone to work in, so if the employer knows about someone getting illegally harassed or bullied for any reason, the employer must take action to end the conduct.
- Illegal Clauses
Some shifty employers will add impossible clauses into the employee handbook or your employment contract that allows them to get away with all sorts of things. Some examples include prohibiting employees from discussing their wages, not paying for overtime, unreasonable dress codes, and requiring employees to work through breaks or meal periods.
Contact Us Today
Generally, you must take legal action to recover all wages due to you that the employer refuses to pay. Just know you are not on your own. Please contact us here at Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC today and we will assist you in working through any legal matters between you and your employer.