Many of our clients ask us how long the wage complaint process takes. This depends on whether a disagreement has to go to court, or if we can settle without litigation. While no two complaints are precisely the same, we’d like to provide a rough sketch for how long it takes to handle a wage claim.
Wage Complaint Process Basics
There are different ways to file a wage complaint, and some are more effective than others. Usually, you hire an employment attorney to file a wage lawsuit on your behalf. It is also possible to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor (Wage & Hours Division). However, this is often a very long process and the DOL often recovers far less in unpaid wages than an employment attorney. Your best opportunity for success in recovering the most unpaid wages is to hire an experienced attorney who has a track record of success in unpaid wages cases.
What Kinds of Problems May Lead to a Wage Claim?
Which wage disputes occur most often between employer and employees? These are the most common scenarios where we may need to help you appear against your employer in court if we cannot negotiate an out of court settlement for you.
- Unpaid Overtime Premiums
- Failure or Refusal to Pay at Least the Federal or State Minimum Wage
- Unlawful Payroll Deductions
- Misclassification of employees as exempt employees
- Misclassification of employees as independent contractors
- Mismanagement of Automatic Clocks (with employee time cards)
- Illegal rounding of employee work time
- Paying commission only to employees who sell from the office and/or home office
- Not paying for business expenses such as cell phones, printers, paper, etc. that are required to perform the job
If you’ve experienced problems like these, please contact the Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC so we can evaluate your situation and determine if you have a valid unpaid wages claim.
Finding the Right Attorney for the Job
For optimal results, it makes sense to find the best employment attorney for the job. If for no other reason, you can assume your employer will have a stellar legal team of its own to try to defeat your claim. So, how do you know you’re working with a reliable attorney?
Look for these qualities when selecting a wage and overtime attorney:
- They have a record of success at litigating unpaid wage lawsuits.
- The attorney knows the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), including its provisions on overtime pay. They also understand and apply any state laws pertaining to unpaid wages such as state specific minimum wage and exemption.
- They help employees who have had their positions misclassified (i.e., assistant managers and contractors) when it leads to lower earnings.
Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC Can Guide You Through the Wage Complaint Process Successfully
Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC has vast experience in litigating unpaid wages cases throughout the United States. They have litigated against some of the biggest employers in the country. They are comfortable representing employees in courts across the United States.
Contact Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC today if you believe your employer is mistreating you in paying or not paying your wages.