Do you have a wage/hour dispute with your employer? If so, you must contact a Hartford wage and hour attorney. Although you may feel frustrated and angry about how you are treated at work, there are ways to protect your rights. A great attorney can work with you in fighting back and getting your unpaid wages. Whether your wage and hour dispute arose because of poor record-keeping, unpaid overtime, or worker misclassification, the best attorney can represent you. They understand your rights and the duties of your employer. They can advise you on your rights and responsibilities in terms of minimum wages, overtime pay, and employee classification.
If your employer has been paying you less than you earned, you can file a claim with the Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Wage and Workplace Standards. Also, you can file a lawsuit if your employer violated your rights.
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Wage and Hour Violations
Although a lot of wage and hour violations are blatant, others may be less obvious. These include the following:
- Incorrect overtime pay calculation. Overtime hours are time you spend working for your employer beyond your regular shift. You should be paid the right amount for the extra work you do.
- Failure to get paid for off-the-clock time. Whether you were asked to check and answer emails or load a truck before the official start of your shift, you performed work that benefits your employer. Thus, you must be paid for it.
- Employee misclassification. A lot of overtime claims arise because of employees being misclassified as “exempt” and are denied overtime pay. However, employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors qualified as employees violate the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Paying less than minimum wages. Connecticut employees must be paid at least $15 per hour. You can file a claim against an employee who fails to pay you minimum wage.
Unpaid wage and overtime pay violations are quite common in health care, hospitality, janitorial services, and restaurant industries. Thankfully, a skilled employment lawyer who specializes in wage/hour disputes can help ensure a victim gets paid each penny they have earned.
Employees who speak up regarding the failure of their employer to pay them overtime compensation have protection from the law. Both federal and Connecticut laws do not permit employers from taking retaliatory action against workers who seek legal recourse. The state prohibits employers from wrongfully firing a worker for reasons that violate a significant public policy.
