Wage Theft is Serious, And You Should Be Too.
Employers playing games with their workers’ money is no laughing matter. Every single year in the US, millions of hard-working employees are cheated out of Billions of dollars that they are legally entitled to.
What is Wage Theft
Wage theft occurs when employers withhold some, or all, of their employees’ pay. It is considered the most widespread and costliest kind of theft in the country because it occurs over and over again.
Wage theft can include:
- Not paying employees for all hours worked, including time spent working “off the clock”, or in company-required meetings
- Violating federal or state minimum wage laws
- Failing to pay full legal overtime rates, including miscalculating rates
- Misclassifying employees as exempt or independent contractors
- Keeping or misappropriating tips intended for service workers
- Taking illegal deductions in pay
- Non-reimbursement for work-related expenses
- Not keeping accurate pay records as required by law
- Not providing all legal notices to employees as required by law
Who is Affected by Wage Theft
While wage theft occurs in all types of industries and to all levels of workers, it is particularly common in areas such as retail, food service, construction, janitorial, and phone sales, to name a few. Women, people of color and immigrants are most likely to experience wage theft, although men often experience it too. In other words, wage theft can affect everyone. And the impact of wage theft can be felt throughout the economy.
What Can Be Done
Too often wage theft is unreported because people are often unaware that they are not being paid properly. Those who do know that their employers are cheating them can be reluctant to speak up for fear of being fired or retaliated against in some other form. Retaliation by employers to employees who ask to be paid according to labor laws is also illegal.
If you believe you are a victim of wage theft, retaliation, or if you are unsure if you are owed money by your employer, call the wage theft experts at USA Employment Lawyers. USA Employment Lawyers are serious about wage theft and have dedicated their practice to helping people recover money owed to them from wage and hour violations. It’s time for you to get paid. Call (800) 483-0998 or contact us today!