Overtime Lawyer
If you believe that you’re not being paid enough, or at all, by your employer, then it’s time to look for representation such as an overtime lawyer that can help you get the compensation you deserve for your work. However, it can be difficult to determine if your situation warrants legal assistance or if you’re just having an understandable disagreement with your boss over money. The best way to know if you need an overtime lawyer is to look out for these warning signs. These are five of the biggest red flags that mean you need to contact an overtime lawyer as soon as possible according to our friends at Disparti Law Group.
1) Non-payment
Perhaps the most obvious sign that you need to lawyer up is if your employer simply isn’t paying you what you’re owed. If you’re not being paid for the hours you’ve worked, or if you’re being paid less than minimum wage, it’s time to take action. An overtime lawyer can help you recover the wages you’re owed and ensure that your employer pays you fairly in the future. Other signs you might need a lawyer include lack of breaks, working on weekends without pay, unpaid bonuses or benefits and work-related injuries with no worker’s compensation coverage.
2) Unpaid Overtime Hours
If you regularly work more than 40 hours per week and are not being paid for those extra hours, you may be entitled to overtime pay. Unfortunately, many employers try to get away with not paying their employees for overtime hours. If you think you are not being paid for all the hours you work, you should speak to an overtime lawyer.
3) Failure to Provide Break Times
Employers are required to provide employees with a 20-minute break for every six hours worked. If your employer is not providing you with proper break times, or if they are making you work through your breaks, you may be entitled to compensation.
4) Not Paying Travel Time Between Locations
If you’re expected to travel between job sites as part of your work day, your employer should pay you for that travel time. This is true even if you use your own car; you should be reimbursed for mileage at the current IRS rate. If you’re not being paid for travel time, talk to an overtime lawyer. Remember, unpaid doesn’t always mean illegal. In some cases, it’s legal and in others it’s simply not required by law. If you think you’ve been wronged by your employer, get a second opinion from a qualified lawyer before taking any action against them.
5) Being Forced to Work through Breaks
According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employees are entitled to a 20-minute break for every eight hours worked. If your employer is forcing you to work through your breaks, or not giving you a break at all, they may be violating the FLSA. It’s important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible if this has happened because they will need to know exactly how many times it has occurred in order to establish any potential violations.
Contact an overtime lawyer today if you have experienced any of the above.