Wage and Hour Attorney Near Me

Many business owners treat their employees honestly and pay them what they are fairly due. However, there are a few that are more concerned about their bottom line than they are about their employees. These business owners use a number of tactics to protect their bottom line such as not paying overtime, forcing employees to work off the clock, making illegal paycheck deductions, and more. When employers act this way, it is against the law, and employees can hold them responsible. A wage and hour attorney can help reclaim lost wages and make things right. 

Below are some of the most common types of wage violations with which a wage and hour attorney near you can help. 

Minimum Wage Violations

Although the federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 an hour, in Ohio, the minimum wage is $8.30. All employers in Ohio must abide by this. The only exception is tipped employees, who must receive $4.15 an hour. Employers must pay employees at least this wage for every hour the employee works. 

Overtime Wage Violations

When employees work over 40 hours in a single week, the law requires employers to pay them a rate of one-and-a-half times their pay for every additional hour. Although this is true for many employees, there are also many types of employees that are exempt. A wage and hour attorney near you can determine whether you should have been paid overtime if you think you were unfairly denied. 

Misclassification Violations

Due to the fact that there are many employees exempt from overtime rules, employers will often mislabel or misclassify employees to avoid paying them what they are rightfully owed. Contractors, for example, do not typically receive overtime. Therefore, an employer may misclassify a non-exempt employee as a contractor, so they do not have to pay overtime. 

Off the Clock Violations

By law, all employers must pay their employees for all the time that the employees spend within the scope of their employment. Employers cannot ask employees to come in early or stay late without compensating them properly for doing so. When employers do not use a time clock but keep track of hours manually, it could be that they are not paying employees properly and that many are working off the clock. 

Illegal Deduction Violations

Many employers believe that they have the right to make deductions from an employee’s paycheck when they do not. For example, a restaurant owner may charge employees one dollar for every glass they break. Or, a store owner may deduct an employee’s paycheck if the till is short. These are illegal practices and a wage and hour lawyer near you can help reclaim those deductions. 

Find the Wage and Hour Attorney Near You

Employees often do not want to stand up to their employer, even when they have been treated unfairly, because they fear retaliation. It is important that all employees understand that they have a right to be treated fairly and to be adequately paid for any work they perform. When they are not, they should speak to a wage and hour attorney near them who can help. 

If you feel as though you have been treated unlawfully by your employer, call Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC. We can help you reclaim wages, including any tips or bonuses you feel you have lost, and discuss what measures you can take if you believe your employer may retaliate against you. We are the wage and hour attorneys near you who want to help, so contact us today.