Wage violations are a prevalent problem that is affecting workers across numerous industries in Connecticut. Such violations of law not merely prevent employees from having rightful earnings but undermine fair labor standards, too.
Suppose a person gets into a job but is not well aware of all the exploitations and abuse that are pretty prevalent in the workspace and does not have any idea if there has been a wage violation. Such people will be constantly exploited, particularly by employers, and that will minimize the earnings that they have really worked hard for.
Comprehending common wage violations is pretty vital for employers and employees to make sure everything complies with labor laws and to safeguard the rights of the workers. If someone has unfortunately been a victim of such violations, it is better to get in touch with Carey & Associates, P.C. to get justice.
Common Work Violations You Need to Be Aware About
Irrespective of where you work, your rights should be preserved and protected. Take a look at some of the work violations that occur to stay informed.
1. Misclassification of Employees
A pretty common wage violation is the misclassification of employees. Sometimes, employers classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees to avoid paying some benefits, overtime, and taxes.
Independent contractors do not receive the same protections as employees under FLSA, which results in significant financial losses for the workers who are affected.
2. Failure to Pay Overtime
The FLSA makes it mandatory for non-exempt employees to receive overtime pay at about one and a half times the regular rate for hours where the employees worked beyond the 40 hours in a workweek. However, some employers fail to comply with the particular requirement by not paying at all for overtime or by miscalculating.
We all have worked overtime at some point and are aware that overtime work is like extra commitment, and for such hours, we must be paid adequately. Not getting paid for overtime is a significant violation of the rights of every employee, and a voice must be raised if the employer fails to pay for overtime.
3. Minimum Wage Violations
There are minimum wage standards set up by federal and state laws that need to be followed. However, employers sometimes do not comply with the law. It can happen because of numerous means, such as underreporting the total hours worked, deducting expenses from wages, or paying workers “off the books.”
4. Unpaid Wages
Unpaid wages happen when employers withhold some part of the earnings of an employee. It can happen through improper deductions, not issuing a final paycheck after termination, or not paying for all the hours the employee has worked.
Employees work really hard throughout the month to finally get paid for the hard work they have put in. If employers withhold earnings, it can be really frustrating, and the exploitation of an employee and proper action needs to be taken.
5. Off-the-Clock Work
Some employers need or let employees perform some work-related tasks after clocking out or before clocking in, which effectively denies pay for all the hours worked by the employees. It can include numerous tasks such as attending meetings, setting up workstations, or finishing paperwork.
6. Tips and Tip Pooling Violations
A significant portion of the employees working in the service industry consist of tips. Violations happen when employers fail to pay the tipped minimum wage, indulge in illegal tip pooling arrangements, or deduct tips improperly.
The Next Step If Such Violations Happen!
The most rational next step after such violations is to get in contact with an employment law attorney who can help with the injustice that happened, make sure the employee’s rights are protected against such abuses, and get what the employee rightfully deserves.
