Few things can be more distressing than not being paid for an honest day’s work. Unfortunately, some employers in Ohio tend to underpay their employees – in violation of state as well as federal labor laws. Data shows that every year, at least 217,000 workers in Ohio are underpaid by their employers. What is even worse is that a vast majority of these workers are minimum wage earners who are entirely dependent on their salary to make ends meet. That is why anyone can get an unpaid wage lawyer in Ohio and that is why these lawyers exist.
Under Ohio law, employees who are underpaid have the right to file a claim against their employer with the help of an unpaid wage lawyer in Ohio and demand compensation. The question is – how do you find out if you have unpaid wages owed to you? Let us take a look.
This is one of the most common tactics used by employers to underpay their workers. While your employer is allowed to deduct charges and expenses from your paycheck, they can only do so if the deductions do not cause your wages to fall below the state minimum wage.
For example, if you are paid $12 per hour, and if your employer chooses to deduct $3 for work-related expenses like a uniform, tools, and so on, it is perfectly legal. If, on the other hand, you are paid the minimum wage – $8.830 per hour – and if your employer deducts even a single dollar for work-related expenses or other charges, it is illegal.
In case you are not able to determine whether the deductions made by your employer are legal or not, you can consult an unpaid wage lawyer in Ohio.
It is extremely common for employees to take short breaks – ranging anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes – to recharge and cut loose during a tough workday. Such breaks do not count as meal breaks under Ohio’s labor laws or the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). So, your employer must add these breaks to your work hours and compensate you for the same. If they fail to do so, you can file a claim against them with the assistance of an unpaid wage lawyer in Ohio.
Sometimes, your employer might ask you to show up at work a bit earlier than usual or stay even after you clock out to perform certain duties. These duties might be related to your work or for the benefit of your employer. Whatever the case may be, you deserve to be compensated for the hours you put in. Otherwise, you might have a claim against your employer.
At Scott & Winters Law Firm, we know the value of a hard-earned dollar. It is why we take each and every wage and hour violation case seriously – irrespective of the amount of unpaid wages that are owed to the employee in question.
As a boutique law firm, we have represented thousands of workers from different industries and backgrounds over the years and recovered millions in lost and unpaid wages. We can do the same for you too.
If you believe that you have unpaid wages owed to you, call us today at 216-912-2221 or fill out this form to schedule a free consultation with one of our Ohio unpaid wage lawyers.
