Many Americans are hard workers, and they seek out opportunities to succeed in their work. That’s why it is so frustrating when employers fail to respect employee rights. One of the most common employment law violations is the failure to pay overtime. However, even when employees suspect they aren’t receiving the overtime pay they are due, many aren’t sure what to do about it.
When Should Your Employer Pay You Overtime?
When non-exempt employees work more than 40 hours in one week, they are financially rewarded by laws requiring their employer to pay them overtime pay for any hours in excess of the standard 40. Employers are required to pay eligible employees who work overtime at an overtime pay rate of one-and-a-half times their regular rate of pay. The overtime pay rate applies to every hour worked in excess of 40 in one week.
My Employer is Not Paying Me Overtime, What Should I Do?
Some employers fail to provide their employees with overtime pay even though doing so is required by law. They do so for a number of reasons – some intentional, and some unintentional. In some cases, the failure to pay overtime is due to intentional wage theft; in other cases the employer may inadvertently misclassify their employees. Regardless of the reason for the overtime pay violation, there are actions employees can take to protect their right to overtime pay.
When You Aren’t Being Paid Overtime:
1. Keep track of your schedule
2. Speak with your employer
3. File a complaint
No Overtime Pay? Track Your Hours & Talk to Your Employer
If you aren’t being paid overtime pay and you think your employer is violating labor laws, keep track of your work schedule. Keeping an accurate record of the time you work is essential in case you need to build a claim seeking your unpaid overtime wages. When keeping track of the hours you work, make sure to designate which hours are overtime. In some situations, resolving the issue of unpaid overtime could be as simple as talking to your employer. If the situation isn’t resolved that easily, you may need to seek the help of an experienced employment law attorney and file a complaint.
If you have unpaid overtime wages, let Armstrong & Vaught P.L.C., Tulsa’s Premier Workers’ Compensation, Employment, and Social Security Law attorneys help you protect your rights. We have the experience you need on your side as you seek the compensation you deserve.