Wage theft is a crime, but unfortunately it comes in many forms. Some may be obvious, while others are more difficult to identify. If you have been the victim of wage theft, you need to speak to a Virginia wage theft lawyer. Here’s how to spot wage theft and what you can do about it.
Wage Theft
Simply put, wage theft is any instance where you don’t receive a benefit you’ve earned. Sometimes this is easy to notice, like when an employer fails to pay overtime and instead pays the normal rate of pay. Other times, it can be hard for the employee to identify. Unfortunately, hundreds of employees can be robbed of their hard work and labor this way.
Wage theft can include benefits and pay but also access to meals and rest breaks, or the right to worker’s compensation if you get injured. When this is done intentionally, it is nefarious. However, it can be done innocently and unintentionally by uniformed employers. Either way, even innocent mistakes can be labor law violations.
Have You Been a Victim of Wage Theft?
Here are some signs that you may have been a victim of wage theft.
- Your paycheck is repeatedly incorrect, even after asking about it.
- You don’t get to take meal breaks or have to complete work tasks after being clocked out.
- You complete overtime hours but don’t get overtime pay.
- Your boss tells you to work off the clock.
- Your workplace misclassifies your work status, preventing you from receiving minimum wage or overtime pay.
- The boss requires you to pay up front for a uniform.
- You buy something for your employer with your own money but they don’t reimburse you.
- Your boss refuses to pay your final paycheck after you leave a job.
Virginia Wage Theft Lawyer
If you have been the victim of wage theft, you need to speak to a Virginia wage theft lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you file the correct paperwork to make a complaint with the Department of Labor and take other steps towards compensation. Contact Cook, Craig, and Francuzenko today to learn more.
