All employers across the United States must comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which is a federal law that sets minimum requirements for employee wages. In addition, some states enacted their own labor laws, including the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act. Some states choose to set stricter standards than federal law, but Pennsylvania’s wage laws are generally in line with FLSA. When employers violate wage laws, they owe penalties and back pay to affected employees. However, employees must take action to protect their rights, and it is important to have the help of trusted wage and hour attorneys in Blue Bell to do so. Let The Garner Firm, Ltd. protect your rights.
How Employers Deny You Compensation
There are different ways that employers can violate FLSA and state wage laws, and all of them deprive employees of their rightful compensation. The following are only some complaints that employees in Blue Bell might have.
- Misclassification of employees – Many wage requirements only apply to employees classified as “nonexempt.” There are strict requirements to meet for an exempt classification, though some people might be misclassified as exempt because employers want to avoid wage compliance. In addition, some employers might misclassify employees as independent contractors, as wage laws do not apply to independent contractors either. Misclassified employees can lose significant wages as a result.
- Minimum wage – Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is in line with FLSA and is currently $7.25 per hour. Nonexempt employees must receive this minimum wage for every hour they work, including partial hours. There are specific rules for tipped employees, as well, to ensure their compensation meets minimum wage requirements. Many employers might miscalculate hours or take unlawful deductions that cause employees to fall below minimum wage.
- Overtime – For hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, non-exempt employees should receive 1.5 times their usual hourly wage for overtime rates. There are many ways that employers try to get out of paying overtime, and this violates wage laws.
- Employment contracts – When employers have employees sign employment contracts, the agreement should set out terms for compensation, including regular salary, bonuses, commissions, and other benefits. When employers breach employment contracts by not providing the agreed-upon compensation.
Protect Your Rights to Compensation
If you believe that your employer did not provide you proper compensation for the work you performed or according to an employment contract, you should not wait to have a wage lawyer review your situation. If we identify compensation issues or violations, we can advise you of your legal options to protect your rights. We can handle the legal process, seeking back pay and other legal relief available to you. We represent individual employees, as well as groups of employees who experienced the same compensation violations.
Consult with Our Compensation Attorneys in Blue Bell
The Garner Firm, Ltd., is proud to stand up for the rights of employees in Blue Bell and the surrounding areas. Contact us to set up an initial consultation so we can assess your rights.