When you go to work, you likely expect that you will receive fair pay for the hours you work. You assume that your employer will treat you fairly and that you will receive the full amount of pay to which you are entitled, but unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are times when employers do not pay their employees fairly, giving them less than what they’ve earned. This is why it is important for all workers, regardless of their role, experience or pay scale, to know and understand their rights.
An important aspect of your right to fair pay is knowing your employment classification. Your classification could determine factors such as whether you can earn overtime pay and more. You have rights in the workplace, and if you experience a violation of these rights, you may have the right to speak out, seeking to hold your employer accountable for what you experienced.
Know your classification
It is of critical importance to know whether you are an exempt or non-exempt employee. If you are exempt, this means that you are a salaried employee, and your pay is not based on an hourly rate. Other exempt employees include seasonal employees and individuals who earn over a specific amount each year. If you are an exempt employee, this means that you are not eligible for overtime pay, even if you work more than eight hours in one day.
If you are a non-exempt employee, this means you are eligible for overtime pay and minimum wage according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employers sometimes choose to pay hourly workers more than the required minimum wage. If you work more than the 40-hour limit per week, you are eligible for time and a half for every overtime hour you work. In order to avoid paying rightfully earned overtime wages, employers may misclassify employees intentionally.
Fighting for your rightful pay
If you believe that your employer is withholding your rightfully earned wages, you do not have to remain silent. You will benefit from seeking an understanding of your options, including the possibility of taking legal action against your employer. To file a claim or learn more about your options, you will benefit from seeking insight from a professional about how you can pursue the money you earned and defend your rights as an employee.