Chattanooga Wage Theft Lawyer
Employers are required by law to compensate their employees for their work. However, when an employer does not rightfully do so, victims of wage theft might have legal actions they could take against that employer. Our experienced FLSA attorneys could help employees who have been slighted by an employer recover compensation.
A Chattanooga wage theft lawyer could help you recover the back pay you need after an employer fails to uphold its agreement to you. Call today and schedule your consultation with our team.
What is Wage Theft?
One of the most common ways for employers to commit wage theft is by failing to pay overtime required by law. Another typical example of wage theft is when an employer makes an agreement to pay the employee a certain amount but fails to actually pay the agreed amount of payment. If the employer agrees to pay a person $10 an hour or a salary of $1,600 per week, the employer is bound to that amount. Once the employee performs the work, the employer cannot after that change his or her mind and pay a different rate. For more information, consult with a knowledgeable of Chattanooga wage theft attorney.
Minimum Required Hourly Wage in Chattanooga
The minimum required hourly wage, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act, is $7.25 for most employees. There are other minimum rates for tipped employees like waiters and waitresses, which is $2.13 per hour plus tips. However, the tips and the $2.13 per hour must combine to equal $7.25. Additionally, there are exceptions for employees if they work in salaried positions. However, employers are only allowed to use a salaried position and exempt them from minimum wage requirements if they are in certain types of jobs like management positions or other professional positions.
Overtime Payment Requirements
The Fair Labor Standards Act is the federal law that requires minimum wage and overtime payments. It applies everywhere in Tennessee and across the U.S. It requires a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and overtime to be paid at a time and a half rate for all hours worked over 40 in a week.
It is important to note that not all workers are eligible for overtime. However, there are certain types of job positions that are exempt from being paid overtime. If an employee is paid salary and he or she fits these job descriptions, he or she might not be entitled to overtime. These overtime exceptions apply to management, administrative, and professional employees rather than labor-type jobs.
How a Lawyer Could Help
The Fair Labor Standards Act provides a private course of action for employees whose employers did not follow the laws. What that means is that employees have a case where they can sue for recovery of the payment that they should have been paid while working, whether that is minimum wage or overtime payment. If they are successful, then they could recover that back pay. They might also be able to recover double that amount, as well their attorney’s fees on top of that as a penalty to the employer. Sometimes an employee, depending on the strength of the case, might get a full recovery by contacting a well-established wage theft lawyer in Chattanooga.
Contact a Chattanooga Wage Theft Attorney Today
Finding that you have been robbed of pay by an employer who you trusted to compensate your hard labor is a difficult time for anyone. You might feel as though you have little legal recourse. However, a Chattanooga wage theft lawyer could help you fight for the compensation you need. Reach out today to start your process with a confidential consultation.
