As a hardworking employee, you expect to be paid what you earn. Unfortunately, however, some employers, both purposely and negligently, fail to pay their employees what they are owed. Often, legal action becomes necessary to recover wages from an employer who refuses to pay. If you are a victim of wage theft in Missouri, please contact the experienced Missouri wage and hour claims attorneys of Privette Law Office.
The Fair Labor Standards Act
Employers in Missouri are required by law to abide by the rules outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Unfortunately, employers sometimes fail to abide by these requirements. Some ways that employers violate the FLSA include:
- Incorrectly classifying employees as independent contractors.
- Falsely classifying an employee as exempt in an attempt to avoid paying overtime.
- Requesting that an employee engage in work for which he or she is not paid.
- Failing to pay an employee for overtime that was not pre-approved.
- Denying overtime pay to certain employees who do not regularly travel from the workplace.
If your employer has taken these actions or any other that have resulted in the withholding of wages for which you are owed, you may file a legal claim to recover your lost wages.
Common Wage Violations by Employers
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to compensate their employees for all work-related activities. However, employers sometimes try to avoid paying their employees for on-the-job activities. Some common violations that are the subject of minimum wage and hour claims include:
Rest breaks: Employers sometimes withhold wages for employee rest breaks. However, if an employer allows an employee to take a rest break lasting between five and 20 minutes, the employer is required to pay wages for that time.
Travel time: If an employee must travel between job sites or attend meetings that are not held in the main workplace, then he or she must be compensated for this time.
Employee training: Finally, employees who attend mandatory work training, webinars, or other work-related meetings must be compensated for this time.
Filing a Claim
If your employer withholds your wages or takes any of the illegal actions discussed above, then you may be able to file a claim to recover the income to which you are entitled. However, if this situation applies to you, then you must take specific steps to protect your right to file a claim.
For example, to increase your odds of a successful claim, you must accurately document instances in which you were not compensated for work you completed. Information to gather to improve the strength of your claim includes the times, dates, and the nature of the work you completed. In addition, you should gather any text messages, emails, or other communication that helps support your claim.
The Bottom Line
Although you may be entitled to file a claim for unpaid wages, doing so without assistance can be challenging. Therefore, if you need assistance recovering wages, you should reach out to an experienced Missouri wage and hour claim attorney. An experienced Missouri attorney will ensure that your case is as strong as possible while meeting all deadlines and legal requirements.
Contact a Missouri Wage and Hour Claim Attorney
If you are a victim of wage theft, you need an experienced Missouri wage and hour claim attorney on your side. At Privette Law Office, we understand how difficult it can be when your employer violates your rights. Therefore, when you come to us for help with your wage and hour claim, we will aggressively seek compensation on your behalf. Please contact us to schedule a consultation with an experienced wage and hour claim attorney.