how to find a wage theft lawyer

If you have been the victim of wage theft, call Markoff Leinberger today at 888-517-9115 for your free case evaluation. We are located in Chicago but serve clients across the United States. ← Previous Post

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How do I report wage theft to the government?

Review Your Options with a Skilled Wage Theft Attorney. When contending with an employer who has victimized you by engaging in wage theft, it helps to have a skilled wage theft lawyer by your side, fighting for justice on your behalf. The Lore Law Firm has 25 years of experience helping employees with wage theft.

What is a wage theft lawsuit?

For those looking to report wage theft to the authorities, the Department of Labor’s Wage & Hour Division maintains offices all over the country in which you may file a formal complaint and submit evidence. Federal employees will then investigate to see if any laws have been broken. If so, they will collect back wages on your behalf.

What is wage theft and how can you prevent it?

Free Confidential Consultation. Your initial consultation with a STOP WAGE THEFT Lawyer is completely free and confidential. We will review your information, answer your questions, and determine if you have a case, all at no cost to you. If you select us to handle your case, you pay us nothing unless we recover money damages for you.

What are the most common types of wage theft cases?

An experienced DC wage theft lawyer could make a stark difference in you wage theft claim. A qualified attorney could help clarify whether you are exempt or non-exempt, navigate the often-murky legal system, and assist you in your fight to receive proper compensation for your labor. If you have fallen victim to wage theft, contact an experienced Washington, DC wage theft lawyer …

STOP WAGE THEFT LAWYERS

Companies steal millions of dollars from employees every week by withholding overtime pay, employee misclassification, illegal deductions in pay, failing to pay minimum wages, working employees off the clock, or not paying their employees at all.

Hundreds of Millions Of Dollars In Unpaid Wages

STOP WAGE THEFT Lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid wages for warehouse workers, retail workers, construction workers, manufacturing employees, guards, janitorial service employees, restaurant and hotel workers, call center employees, customer service representatives, misclassified employees, and many, many others.

Types of Wage Theft

Though the most obvious and brazen form of wage theft is the failure to pay workers for their labor, there are many ways in which employers may be culpable for violating labor laws. Failure to pay overtime is considered wage theft, as is paying workers below the legally mandated minimum wage.

Exemptions from the Fair Labor Standards Act

The FLSA obligates employers to pay a minimum wage and to pay overtime at a rate of one and a half times normal pay to employees who work more than forty hours per week, in addition to other stipulations. However, there are some types of employees who are legally considered exempt from the FLSA.

What About Tips?

Employees who earn tips have a much lower hourly minimum wage in Washington, DC. However, the law requires all workers, including tipped workers, to earn at least the District’s local minimum wage.

How Can a Washington DC Wage Theft Attorney Help?

An experienced DC wage theft lawyer could make a stark difference in you wage theft claim. A qualified attorney could help clarify whether you are exempt or non-exempt, navigate the often-murky legal system, and assist you in your fight to receive proper compensation for your labor.

How many hours a week do you have to work to get a minimum wage?

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) explains it in black and white – American employees must make at least minimum wage for every hour they work, and in many cases, time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours a week.

How many wage theft cases were resolved in 2013?

In February 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state resolved more than 6,700 wage theft cases in 2013 with disbursements of more than $23 million in back pay to 12,700 workers.

What are the most at risk workers?

Those workers most at risk include: 1 Contractors and other temporary workers 2 Employees for which English is their second language 3 Undocumented workers 4 Employees in low-wage industries 5 Workers who receive a flat rate 6 Workers employed by small businesses

Is reporting wage laws easy?

Yet, reporting is not as easy as it has been. Legislatures in states nationwide have slashed the budgets of state agencies that enforce wage laws. While WHD can take many cases, it's prohibited from investigating some employers covered by state laws.

What are some examples of wage theft?

The following are examples of wage theft: No payment to the employee. On the other side of the equation, employees can also cheat their employers by taking longer breaks or falsifying time for a co-worker; it's easier with manual time cards and clocks.

What is digital wage theft?

Digital Wage Theft. An employee is entitled to receive compensation for all the work that they've completed. One way that an employer violates this right is through wage theft, a form of larceny in the workplace. It becomes digital when it's achieved through means such as employee time-tracking software.

What happens if your employer steals your wages?

If your employer has stolen your wages, it's likely that it has also happened to your co-workers. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to initiate a class action lawsuit against your employer. You can sue for unpaid wages and damages.

Where to report a wage violation?

If that doesn't resolve the problem, you can report the violation to the local office of the U.S. Department of Labor, the agency that conducts investigations into labor law violations. The law forbids your employer from taking any retaliatory actions against you after complaining about wage violations.

Why do states differ regarding how employers should report pay to their employees?

Because states differ regarding how employers should report pay to their employees, sometimes employees might be unaware that there's an issue with their wages. The laws and resources also vary from state to state. In 2010, a Florida county became the first in the country to enact a wage theft ordinance.

Why should I hire a wage theft lawyer in Maryland?

An accomplished lawyer will advocate to ensure that you are fully compensated, as well as to hold the employer responsible to prevent future wage theft.

What is considered a wage in Maryland?

The definition of “wages” for purposes of Maryland’s law includes traditional compensation but also includes bonuses, commission payments, fringe benefits, overtime payments and any other compensation that the employer promised, such as room and board or materials costs.

What happens if you don't get full compensation?

Failure to receive full and fair compensation for your work can be both stressful and frustrating, and it can place you in the uncomfortable position of having to challenge your employer to receive proper payment.

Defining Wage Theft

The definition of wage theft is a simple one: You do not receive the pay that the law or your contract entitles you to. Wage theft can come in many forms, including if your employer:

A Growing Problem Due to COVID-19

A new report from the Washington Center for Equitable Growth tank shows how the pandemic is likely causing wage theft to become more widespread. The report examines the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and shows how wage theft dramatically increased at the same time that unemployment was rapidly rising.

Why Is This Happening?

It is obvious that many businesses are struggling to make the same amount of money that they did before the pandemic, especially restaurants. However, that does not excuse short-changing employees.

What Can You Do About Wage Theft?

You may be surprised to learn that wage theft costs victims far more than the victims of all other types of theft combined. But government regulators often rely on victims of wage theft to come forward and make complaints.

Why do employers require employees to work off the clock?

When an employee comes in, they are entitled to additional pay. The employer’s failure to provide proper compensation is considered wage theft.

Can employers commit wage theft?

Employers may commit wage theft in several ways. Some are more obvious than others, but they all result in cheating employees their due pay. Here are the most common forms of this crime.

What is the most important aspect of employment?

One of the most crucial aspects of employment is making sure you receive proper payment for the hours you work. Though employers often have the upper hand in wage negotiations, legislation like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that workers are treated fairly and compensated in a reasonable manner.

Is a tip violation a violation of the FLSA?

Unfortunately, employees who work for tips often bear the brunt of FLSA violations. Under FLSA guidelines, the total per-hour pay of a tipped worker combined with their tips must match the state minimum wage. In Virginia, this means that tipped workers’ paychecks must reflect at least a pay of $7.25 per hour. If this is not the case, it is a violation of the FLSA.