Most states have laws that ensure that workers are paid by their employers for every hour they work. They may cover overtime, paid time off, or any back pay that an employer may owe someone. If you feel as though you’re not being paid for all the hours that you put in at work, you should contact a lawyer to file a claim for your unpaid wages.
Minimum Wage
In Massachusetts, you must be paid at least the minimum hourly wage for the work you do for an employer. The minimum wage as of January 1, 2017 was set at $11 per hour and almost every employee should be paid at least that amount. If you are not being paid minimum wage and do not work for tips, you should contact labor law attorneys in Northampton, MA for help. Click here for more details.
Overtime Pay
Unless you’re an exempt employee, an employer is required to pay overtime to anyone who works more than 40 hours a week. However, employers are not obligated to pay employees overtime if they are:
- Executives
- Managers
- Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, or CPAs
- Creative professionals such as writers, musicians, or actors
If you’re not one of these employees, labor law attorneys can help you get any back pay that an employer owes you for unpaid overtime.
Unpaid Time Off
There are no federal regulations concerning unpaid time off, such as meal breaks, but state law does require employers to give employees an unpaid 30-minute meal break for working at least six hours. However, if you eat while working, then your employer should pay you for that time. To get help with wage issues, contact Connor Morneau & Olin LLP to get more information on filing a claim for your unpaid wages.
Try to keep track of the hours you’ve worked so you can prove to labor law attorneys how much an employer owes you for unpaid time.
