Unpaid Wages and Commissions
All employees deserve to get paid for the work that they have done. When employers avoid paying employees for their work or only pay part of what an employee is owed, it’s important that they be held legally accountable for these actions. The Daytona Beach, FL lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau have helped people with their lawsuits over unpaid wages and commisions, obtaining the wages they were due and making sure employers act in accordance with state and federal labor statutes.
We’d like to consider some of the basics regarding unpaid wage and commissions below. If you have an issue with your employer and receiving proper compensation, we encourage you to contact our law firm as soon as possible. We may be able to help.
Unpaid Regular Wages and Commissions
Unpaid wages and commissions can take different forms. In some cases, hourly employees may not be getting paid their full wage or only receiving part of what they were due. In terms of commissions, employees may not be given the full amount of pay they were guaranteed for the number of sales made.
In either case, employees are not being compensated fully, and employers are obligated to pay these employees the wages that they are owed.
Unpaid Overtime Hours
The more common form of unpaid wages relates to unpaid overtime. In the state of Florida, hourly employees are owed overtime wages when they work for more than 40 hours in a week. Most people who receive overtime pay will get time-and-a-half for each hour after 40 hours.
Unpaid Breaks and Time Off
It’s also possible for employers to short employees by not paying them for breaks that should be on the clock. Short paid breaks (10-20 minutes) are required by law, and employees should also be paid if they are forced to work through an unpaid break. Failure to pay employees properly in both these cases must be noted.
Penalties for Unpaid Wages
If your employer does not pay you your wages and commissions, you are usually entitled to the amount that was owed as well as liquidated damages. These damages are essential the amount you are seeking in unpaid wages.
For example, if you were owed $1,000 in unpaid wages, you would receive the $1,000 that you were owed as well as an additional $1,000 in liquidated damages.
Filing a Complaint Over Wage Law Violations
If you have not received the wages that you are owed, it’s important to file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). They will be able to investigate your claim, and filing a claim costs nothing.
Keep in mind that there is a two-year statute of limitations for filing back wage complaints. It is in your best interests to file this complaint as soon as possible, and to speak with an employment law attorney about your issues.
Learn More About Employment Law Issues
For more information about your legal rights and options regarding unpaid wages, commissions, and compensation, be sure to contact an experienced employment law attorney. The lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau are here to help. You can reach our Daytona Beach office by phone at (866) 610-0653, and our Palm Coast office at (386) 439-7760.
