Seattle Wage and Hour Violation Lawyers
Wage and Hour Violations
Many workers find themselves in an unpaid wages dispute when employers illegally withhold or deny earned wages. In these cases, workers have the right to recover payment through legal action against employers. Wage, hour and overtime violations may involve:
- Unpaid overtime wages
- Failure to pay agreed-upon wages
- Failure to pay final wages
- Misclassification of employees as exempt from overtime payment (for example, classifying an hourly worker as an independent contractor, professional, administrative, or outside salesperson)
- Failure to pay for “off-the-clock” work (including pre-shift and post-shift work, on-call time, mandatory meetings or travel time)
- Unpaid or denied rest breaks & lunch breaks
- Withholding a portion of earned wages without an employee’s written agreement; other improper deductions from wages
The employment attorneys of Emery Reddy handle wage and hour violation claims against both small and large employers, including major corporations, public employers, or any business required to comply with Washington wage laws. We seek to resolve your case outside of the courtroom, but if litigation is necessary to win the full compensation you deserve, we will put our exceptional trial record and experience to work on your behalf.
It is important for workers to be aware that employers sometimes deliberately misclassify hourly (or nonexempt) workers as exempt workers, thus barring those employees from the overtime pay to which they are legally entitled. An exempt employee is generally a salaried professional, a manager, or someone whose job responsibilities fall outside the traditional 40-hour workweek. Nonexempt workers, on the other hand, are entitled to overtime pay for any work exceeding 40 hours per week. If you believe your job has been misclassified in order to deny you breaks or overtime pay, you may have a case for a wage and hour violation claim.
The Washington Minimum Wage Act requires that all employees be paid at least the state minimum wage. (See the Washington minimum wage for the current year or for a previous year). If your employer has paid you less than the state minimum wage for hours worked, a Seattle employment attorney at Emery Reddy can help you recover the payment to which you are legally entitled.
Additional laws governing hours of work, pay, overtime, and employee compensation include the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Washington Wage Payment Act, the Washington Wage Rebate Act, and many other federal and state regulations.
If you or a loved one is involved in an unpaid wages dispute in Washington State, we encourage you to contact our employment attorneys to discuss your case. Call us directly or request a consultation through our client-scheduling calendar.
