Every employer works hard to make a living. Sometimes, you work overtime to make extra money. Every employer has the right to get paid minimum wage and overtime work they do. Unfortunately, many employers exploit their employees and fail to pay fairly for their work. According to federal and state law, an employer should pay their employees fairly. If failed, the employee can take legal action against them.
Compared to other cases, wage and hour claims can be tricky. When you go against your employer to protect your rights, there are chances that the employer will also try to defend themselves. They may back themselves with an influential lawyer who will defend their actions. Therefore, before you pursue a wage and hour claim, ensure to talk to employment lawyers in CT.
What are your rights?
According to the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA), your employer should pay you the minimum wage set by the law. In addition, the employer should pay their employees if they work more than 40 hours a week. Remember, minimum wages changes from time to time, so make sure you are updated with the recent minimum wages.
Sometimes the employer will pay unfair or wrong hourly rates to their employees. In worse situations, the employer may terminate you from the job when you raise a question about pay. In such cases, the employer is entitled to get fringe benefits. Each case is unique, and benefits may vary.
What to do if you are paid unfairly?
The first step is to try resolving the issue within the company. By this, we mean that you can talk to your employer or HR department about your payscale and underpaid work. There are two circumstances to this: your employer will threaten you or fire you for asking about unpaid wages. Second, your HR department or the employer will deny paying. In many cases, the employer may understand their mistake and pay you fair wages or overtime work.
If your employer does provide a proper answer or agrees to pay for your work, you can file a lawsuit against your employer. Before you proceed, it is advisable to talk to an experienced unemployment lawyer who will understand your situation and explore possibilities.
A lawyer will also tell you if you are eligible for a wage and hour claim. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the lawyer will help file the claim and ensure you get maximum compensation.
