Dalton FLSA Lawyer
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulates minimum wage, overtime, child labor standards, and employer record-keeping. Unscrupulous employers may attempt to deprive workers of their hard-earned monies.
If you believe your employer violated the FLSA, you may need the services of a Dalton FLSA lawyer to help you receive your fair compensation. Ask an experienced employment attorney about the validity of your claim today.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?
The FLSA requires employers to pay employees on a regular payday for a specific pay period. That holds true whether a worker is employed on a full-time or part-time basis. The FLSA requires that overtime beyond 40 hours per week is paid at a rate of at least 1.5 times the regular pay rate. Not every worker is covered under the FLSA. However, any worker employed in a business taking part in interstate commerce falls under FLSA regulations, as does anyone employed in a business generating at least $500,000 in gross annual sales.
All public employees fall under the FLSA, as do those employed by public or private schools or hospitals and similar facilities caring for the sick, mentally ill, or aged. Domestic employees earning at least $1,700 per year and working at least eight hours per week fall under the FLSA’s provisions. Workers who do not fall under the FLSA include seasonal employees, mentally or physically disabled persons, and vocational education students. The FLSA does not apply to those employed in an administrative, professional or executive capacity.
Issues Not Covered By the FLSA
The FLSA does not cover many payment issues between an employer and employee. Many of these disagreements fall under the employer/employee employment contract. These areas include:
- Severance pay
- Duties not listed in a job description
- Vacation pay
- Sick days
- Holiday or weekend premium pay
- Number of hours worked
- Benefits packages
- Pay Raises
While meals and break periods are not covered under the FLSA per se, the FLSA does require compensation for workers for short breaks. That does not include meal breaks exceeding 30 minutes. Individuals should consider contacting a Dalton FLSA lawyer as soon as possible to determine whether or not their situation is covered under the Act.
Minimum Wage in Dalton
Georgia’s minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. However, most employees fall under federal minimum wage requirements, which is $7.25 per hour. An individual working a 40-hour week at minimum wage should earn $290 per week or $15,080 per year. Cities and towns may have minimum wage levels higher than the federal minimum, so a worker’s actual minimum wage may depend on the work location.
Under the FLSA, employers cannot deduct from an employer’s paycheck items that reduce their wages below the legal minimum or reduce the overtime pay rate. This includes such deductions as uniforms, tools of the trade, and merchandise or cash shortages. However, there are certain exemptions to this provision, based on specific kinds of work or specific types of employers. Note that the cost of housing or board for a worker may be part of their wages.
How a Dalton FLSA Attorney Can Help
An FLSA attorney carefully reviews the worker’s circumstances. If the employer is violating FLSA regulations, the employee may receive damages for unpaid compensation.
If the employer withheld wages intentionally, the worker may receive double the amount of unpaid wages and the employer is subject to substantial fines. A lawyer works hard to help employees receive the money they earned.
If you think your employer deprived you on wage issues, contact a Dalton FLSA lawyer today. They can review your situation in a free initial consultation and advise you of your options.
