How do companies steal wages from employees?
You cannot shake the feeling that your employer somehow commits wage theft, but you do not know how. What signs should you look for?
GOBankingRates explains common ways companies steal employee wages. If anything below sounds familiar, you could have a wage dispute case to explore.
Neglecting to pay required overtime
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act, companies must pay time-and-a-half wages when qualifying employees work over 40 hours in a workweek. This differs in some states, such as California, which pays time and a half when employees work over eight hours in a single workday. If your employer pays you a regular wage if you work over 40 hours a week, it may break the law.
Failure to pay the current minimum wage
It makes sense to always know Arizona’s current minimum wage, so you know if your company tries to steal wages from you. Even if your company pays you the most current minimum wage, keep track of when that number changes, so you know when you should earn more.
Misclassifying workers
When you first started your current position, did your company bring you on as an employee or a manager? The distinction determines how much you should receive in pay. Managers could qualify as exempt employees, which means they do not qualify for overtime pay. If your company classifies you as a manager, but you do not have a manager’s duties, you could be a victim of wage theft.
You deserve a fair wage for all the hard work you do. When you understand the law, you better understand when a company takes advantage of you and your rights.