Ensuring that your employer pays you the full amount you’re due is becoming more and more crucial for most people. As the cost of living rises, losing even a small amount of money you’ve earned can make a difference.
Many employers are also facing financially tight times, and some of them may try to aid their own situation by illegally cutting the wages of their employees. Here are some of the ways they might do that.
Ignoring extra minutes worked
Have you ever had to work a few minutes beyond the official end of your working day? Has your boss ever told you to get things rolling even though the start of the work day or the end of your scheduled break was still some minutes away? Many workers willingly do those little extras for their employer, but those unpaid minutes can soon amount to a considerable amount of unpaid work, especially if multiplied across much of the workforce. Your employer’s gain is your loss.
Failing to pay the appropriate rate
Some employers pay below the minimum wage. They think they can get away with this because workers are often desperate to have and keep a job. Others claim they are paying the right amount because they meet or surpass the minimum federal rate of $7.25 per hour. What they are actually required to pay in New York is the state’s minimum wage of $16.00 per hour, with the exception of New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, where $17.00 per hour is the minimum required.
Employers may also fail to meet their obligations to pay overtime. They may fail to pay it when due or to calculate it at the correct rate.
If you believe you may have been underpaid or are unsure whether you have, you should talk to your boss or the Human Resources department about it. Depending on their response, you may need to seek legal guidance to help ensure that you receive the full amount you are due for your time and work.