Employment laws protect employees from having their employment rights violated. From discrimination to harassment, to the payment of wages, there are many ways an employee’s rights can be taken from them, with the most common being wage and overtime theft.
Some people, however, may not recognize when these violations occur to them. In order to help you better understand, here are the most common workplace violations when it comes to wages, and what you should know in order to protect your rights.
Wage Theft
Wage theft can occur when an employee does not receive his or her earned pay. Wage theft can happen with either regular or overtime pay. Any non-exempt employees that do not receive pay for the hours that they have worked can claim wage theft. Exempt employees may also be victims of wage theft, but in more complicated situations.
Overtime Theft
Non-exempt employees are protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA requires that non-exempt employees be paid 1.5 times their regular pay for any hours worked over 40-hours in a workweek. Sometimes your employer simply makes a mistake and miscalculates your overtime. However, it is important to keep track of any overtime hours that you may have worked in order to ensure you are being paid appropriately.
Misclassification of Employment
There are certain professions that are considered exempt, but there are many others that are not. Many employers misclassify its employees as exempt in order to avoid paying overtime. For this reason, it is critical to understand what classification your position qualifies for, exempt or non-exempt, ensuring that you are not experiencing a misclassification in your position.
If you feel your rightfully earned wages have been wrongfully taken from you in one way, or another, then be sure to contact the employment attorneys at Maduff & Maduff for more information, or to get started on your claim today.