State and federal laws protect employees’ rights to fair compensation and require employers to provide payment for all hours worked at least once every two weeks. Sadly, many employers do not honor this requirement.
Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to pay its employees the wages in accordance with state and federal laws. If your employer has not been paying you properly, a Sandusky wage theft lawyer at Tittle & Perlmuter can help you file a lawsuit and demand reimbursement for pay that you rightfully earned.
What Counts as Wage Theft in Sandusky?
Failing to Pay Minimum Wage
As a general rule, employers must pay employees at least the minimum wage for all hours worked. As of January 1, 2020, Ohio’s minimum wage rate is $8.70 per hour for most workers. However, small businesses with less than $319,000 in gross receipts per year can pay as little as $7.25 per hour. A failure to provide the minimum wage is a common form of wage theft.
Although most workers must receive at least this amount of hourly pay, tipped workers, those who earn a commission, and salaried employees may make less.
Failing to Pay Overtime
Under Ohio Revised Code § 4111.03, employers must provide compensation in the amount of one and a half times the usual hourly rate for all hours that an employee works in excess of 40 every week. Manipulating a person’s work schedule to avoid these payments or refusing to provide overtime pay is another common form of wage theft.
As with minimum wage laws, overtime requirements do not apply to all employees. Employees may be exempt if their job duties and compensation meet certain requirements set forth by the Department of Labor.
Because there are specific exceptions to the labor laws, it is important that employees who suspect they are victims of wage theft to consult a knowledgeable attorney in their area to have their claims evaluated.
Legal Remedies for Wage Theft
People who believe that their employers have failed to provide proper wages have two options to seek relief under Ohio Revised Code § 4111.10. First, employees may file a complaint with the Director of Commerce. The Director will lead an investigation and potentially pursue a lawsuit to demand the proper payment of wages. However, this process can be lengthy and impersonal.
Alternatively, an employee may seek relief through a private lawsuit a skilled attorney’s help to demand payment of wages. When pursuing damages in civil court, the employee may also seek reimbursement for attorney’s fees and court costs.
Reach Out to a Sandusky Wage Theft Lawyer to Defend Your Rights
Wage theft can be devastating to workers, and for those living paycheck to paycheck, the loss of even a small amount of money can lead to falling behind on bills or repossession of property.
Employers have a legal duty to properly track their employees’ hours and provide minimum wage and overtime pay. If you believe that your employer has failed to follow these laws and caused you financial harm, the attorneys at Tittle & Perlmuter can help you recover the compensation you are legally owed. Our Sandusky wage theft lawyers are experienced in helping workers recover compensation for minimum wage and overtime violations and unfair or unauthorized deductions from paychecks. Call us today to learn more.