When you work for a living you expect to be paid a reasonable amount for the work you do. You also expect that your paycheck will come in a reasonable timeframe, and within the pay period set up by your employment contract. If this doesn't happen, you have legal rights to contact an unpaid wages lawyer to get the payment owed to you.
What are some of the wage laws you should know to ensure you are paid on time and every time? Here are just a few to be aware of.
Prompt Payment For Work Completed
While the federal law doesn't have any set rules on when you should be paid for your work, your state might. You do have the right to be paid within a reasonable timeframe from when your pay period is completed to receive your paycheck. This could be anywhere from weekly to bi-weekly or even monthly depending on the type of work you do.
There are regulations set out by the government to ensure that you have the right to prompt payment. If this isn't the case and you are waiting longer than your employment agreement or contract states, you may have the right to pursue legal options to obtain payment. An unpaid wages lawyer can help you see if you are eligible to go the legal route if you have to wait too long for your paycheck on a regular basis.
The Right To Minimum Wage
When you work, you have the right to at least the federal minimum wage, if not your state's minimum wage. You should check with your state to see what the lowest amount you can be paid is there. It will vary from state to state. If your employer is paying less than at least the federal minimum wage, you have the right to contact an unpaid wages lawyer to ensure you get the money owed to you.
The same is true if you work for tips. You are eligible to be paid at least the federal minimum wage even if you work as a waitress or bartender and receive tips during your workday. In many states, they also require restaurants and bars to pay above the state's minimum wage to servers and bartenders regardless of whether or not they receive tips.
You Should Be Paid For Short Breaks
Some employers don't pay their workers for short breaks, also known as coffee breaks. These breaks are only a few minutes long and are separate from a meal break like lunch or dinner. Longer breaks typically aren't paid for, although you will find some employers will compensate you for them. However, short breaks should be paid.
On the other hand, some companies don't give their employees short breaks and only allow them to take meal breaks. If this is the case, the employer needs to pay for the breaks you would have taken had they been offered. If you find your company doesn't pay for short breaks, then contact an unpaid wages lawyer to see if you can get compensated for the lost wages.
Share30 September 2020
Too many single people assume they don't need to plan their estate. My brother fell into this category, and his unexpected passing left our entire family struggling to deal with his home, belongings, and financial accounts. It took nearly three years for the courts to set up a deal because he left no paperwork detailing how he wanted his estate divided. The situation immediately convinced me to work on my own estate, even though I'm still in my early 30's and don't have children or a spouse to worry about. Since it's a little harder to pick beneficiaries and estate managers when you're single, I collected the resources I used for making my own decisions and decided to publish them here on my blog. Use these resources before talking to an estate planning attorney so you're prepared for making hard decisions.