Wage and Hour Attorneys Columbus

Ohio has very strict laws regarding minimum wage and overtime pay but unfortunately, not every employer abides by them. Employers may engage in a number of different behaviors that violate the rights of employees and that do not provide them the proper pay they earned. If you believe that your employer has not given you the proper amount of pay, it is important to speak to a wage and hour attorney in Columbus that can help you recover your rightful income.

Common Wage and Hour Violations

Unfortunately, there are many different types of wage and hour violations employers may commit. The most common include:

• Refusing to pay overtime, or not paying overtime correctly: Under the federal Wages and the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees that work more than 40 hours a week are entitled to an increase in pay. That increase is equal to time-and-a-half of the regular wage the employee regularly earns. 
• Refusing to pay for off-the-clock work: Any time an employee performs work for their employer, they must be paid for it. Employers violate the rights of employees when they ask them to come in early or remain behind after a shift to perform work and they do not pay for it.
• Unlawful paycheck deductions: Not all paycheck deductions are illegal. However, when deductions from an employee’s paycheck means they will make less than minimum wage, it is an unlawful deduction.
• Tip violations: Tipped employees, such as servers in restaurants and concierges, have a lower minimum wage than non-tipped workers. Still, tipped workers must make at least minimum wage once their hourly wage and tips are combined. If they do not, it is considered a wage violation. Employers sometimes also take all or a portion of an employee’s tips, which is also a violation.

Damages for Wage and Hour Violations

When employers violate the wage and hour rights of employees, workers can hold them liable for paying compensation. Many people think that the lost wages are the only type of damages employees can seek. Lost wages are known as back pay in wage and hour violation lawsuits, and although they are one type of compensation, many more are also available.

• Liquidated damages: Liquidated damages equal the total amount of back pay employees ask for and are often awarded when employers violate the rights of employees.
• Attorney’s fees: Employees should not have to pay for their own attorney’s fees when they want to take their employer to court and so, they can include those costs in their claim.
• Punitive damages: When wage and hour violations are intentional, or the employer retaliates against employees for pursuing a claim, the court may also award punitive damages.

Our Ohio Employment Lawyers can Help You Recover Your Wages

If your employer has not upheld your rights and paid you the proper wages you earned, our wage and hour attorneys in Columbus can help. At Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC, we know how to hold employers accountable for their actions and get you the full wages you deserve. Call us today or contact us online to meet with one of our experienced attorneys and to learn more about how we can help.