When you clock in at work, you have the right to expect that your employer will pay you fairly for the work you did. As an hourly employee, you depend on your employer to compensate for the time you were on the clock, yet this does not always happen. Unfortunately, there are times when California workers do not receive their rightful pay, or they experience different types of unfair treatment from their employer. This is why it is important for each employee to know his or her rights.
One of the most important federal laws protecting you is the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA outlines certain rights and protections for the employee, as well as expectations for fair pay. If an employer violates these rights, it could be grounds for a civil claim. Violations of the FLSA, and unfair wage and hour practices at your place of work, are unacceptable, and you have the right to pursue the recovery you deserve.
Examples of wage and hour violations
Wage and hour violations can happen for many reasons, and it is in your interests to understand whether or not what you are experiencing is illegal and grounds for further action. Examples of different employment practices that violate wage and hour law include:
- Paying hourly employees less than the required minimum wage
- Requiring workers to complete a task after clocking out
- Failure to pay the standard overtime rate for more than 40 hours worked within a week
- Requiring an employee to work through his or her lunch or break time
- Offering an employee compensatory time at a later date instead of overtime
- Improperly calculating overtime pay or regular hourly pay
If you are experiencing any of these, you could be experiencing a violation of your rights. This is grounds to seek legal recourse and fight for the fair pay you deserve.
Fight for the money you earned
Violations of your right to fair pay are serious, and you may pursue recovery of your missing wages and the overtime pay you rightfully earned. If you are unsure of your options or would like an opinion of how to fight for what you need and deserve, it may be helpful to first seek an assessment of your case. This can provide you with insight regarding the most appropriate way forward.
