Wage & Hour Attorneys
Fighting for Workers Nationwide
What is a Wage & Hour Claim?
A wage and hour claim refers to a legal complaint made by an employee against their employer regarding violations of wage and hour laws. These laws regulate various aspects of employment, including minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and other conditions of employment. When an employer fails to comply with these laws, employees have the right to file a claim to seek compensation or other remedies.
Common examples of wage and hour claims include:
- Unpaid Overtime: This occurs when an employer fails to pay eligible employees the required overtime rate for hours worked beyond the standard 40 hours per week (or applicable state laws).
- Minimum Wage Violations: Employers must pay their employees at least the minimum wage as mandated by federal or state law. Wage and hour claims may arise if an employer pays below this minimum.
- Off-the-Clock Work: Employers may violate wage and hour laws by requiring employees to work "off-the-clock" without compensating them for their time. This often happens when employees are asked to perform tasks before or after their scheduled shifts.
- Missed Meal and Rest Breaks: Many jurisdictions mandate that employees be provided with designated meal and rest breaks during their shifts. Claims may arise if employers deny or interrupt these breaks, or if employees are required to work through them without compensation.
- Misclassification of Employees: Employers may misclassify employees as independent contractors or exempt employees to avoid paying overtime or providing other benefits. Employees can file claims if they believe they've been misclassified.
- Failure to Reimburse Expenses: In some cases, employees are required to incur job-related expenses (e.g., travel expenses, uniforms) as part of their employment. Employers may be required to reimburse these expenses, and failure to do so can lead to wage and hour claims.
- Recordkeeping Violations: Employers are typically required to maintain accurate records of employees' hours worked, wages paid, and other relevant information. Violations of recordkeeping requirements can lead to wage and hour claims.
- Failure to Distribute Gratuities: Employers fail to distribute gratuities paid via credit card or electronic payment to Minnesota employees during the payroll period of receipt.
Wage and hour claims offer various legal remedies to employees whose rights have been violated by their employers. These remedies typically include recovering unpaid wages, such as unpaid overtime or minimum wage violations. Additionally, employees may seek compensation for damages resulting from the employer's non-compliance with wage and hour laws, including liquidated damages, interest on unpaid wages, and attorney fees. In some cases, employees may also be entitled to reinstatement or other equitable relief. Class and collective actions can provide a powerful mechanism for employees to collectively pursue justice and maximize their recovery. Overall, the legal remedies available in wage and hour claims aim to ensure that employees are fairly compensated for their work and that employers are held accountable for any violations of labor laws.
Throughout the entire legal process, we prioritize clear communication, responsiveness, and client advocacy. At Nichols Kaster, PLLP, we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of workers and helping them achieve justice in wage and hour claims.
Contact our team today to learn more about how our team of dedicated wage & hour attorneys can fight for the justice you deserve.
Our team of passionate, talented professionals work every day on advancing and protecting people's rights in individual cases and class actions. No entity is too big to play fair, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm to discuss the details of your situation.
