Many of us may already be a victim of wage theft and not even know it. We trust our employer is paying us what we deserve and never really question it, especially if the employer uses electronic paystubs. But unfortunately, wage theft happens every day.

Some people may be aware of it and too afraid to say anything. If you think you are not being paid what you earned, you need to take a stand to recover the unpaid wages you have earned. You can consider talking to your employer.  This likely will not help so you will need to seek the outside help of an employment attorney.

Smart Things to Do to Ensure You Are Never a Victim of Wage Theft

Wage theft can happen in many different ways. That’s why it is important for you to know the ways your employer can take advantage of you so you can protect yourself and your wages.

Keep Track of All Your Hours

One of the best ways to make sure you don’t become a victim of wage theft is to keep track of all your hours. You can track every hour you work every day and every bit of overtime, as well.

Keep a record somewhere that you can access it, like on a spreadsheet or an email draft so you will have a permanent, electronic record. Keep a log in a notebook, too, if you are more comfortable. Keep one at work, but the electronic one at home.

Check Your Pay Stub

When you get your pay stub, you should check it over very carefully including the amount of pay you receive and the hours listed. Make sure all of the hours listed match your own records. If there is a problem, you should address it right away. It might be an oversight, it might not.

Also, look for suspicious deductions. You should ask your employer if you see something that has never been there before or if there is something you are not clear about, ask. Talk to your supervisor, manager, payroll, or ask your fellow employees.

Smart Things to Do to Ensure You Are Never a Victim of Wage Theft: Look for Loopholes in Any Employment Paperwork

Always keep your initial employment paperwork when you are hired. Read it over carefully to see what may be hidden in there. Employers can put in clauses that more easily allow you to be a victim of wage theft.

If you have trouble understanding it, you should get someone else to read it and go over it with you. Ask a friend, a co-worker, or even contact an employment lawyer to help you with it.

Talk To Your Co-Workers

Ask your fellow employees if they are having any issues with their wages. If it is happening to you, it is likely happening to several people.

Compare your wages, your pay stubs, and the deductions from different pay periods. If there are discrepancies, you should talk to your employer or manager. If that doesn’t help, you should talk to an employment attorney who can evaluate your pay situation.

Talk To an Employment Lawyer

If you feel you are a victim of wage theft, you can file a complaint but you should also seek legal advice. Millions of dollars are stolen every year from employees and the thieves largely go unpunished.

Don’t let your employer steal the money you have worked for. Be vigilant, be aware and be proactive. Don’t be afraid to stand up and demand what is legally yours.  An employment lawyer can educate you on wage theft and how your employer is illegally paying you.

Victims of Wage Theft

Please contact us at Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC if you have been the victim of wage theft. Your employer assumes that it will get away with its wage theft because you are not going to do anything about it.

We can and will do something about it wage theft on your behalf. Get the pay you worked for and stop wage theft.