You were working late one day to finish up some much-due work. The time crunch was difficult and you missed going home to see your family – but you’re getting paid for your work. Or, that’s what you thought until you were denied the overtime pay.
You likely aren’t the first and won’t be the last to have your wages stolen from you. There are many underhanded tricks employers use to undermine their employees. Here’s what you should watch out for.
Unpaid overtime
Many people work overtime, sometimes unwillingly, and end up not being paid for their service. Typically, employees who work overtime are paid 1.5 times the typical pay and would receive full-time employment if they constantly meet 40 hours a week. Employers may back out of overtime pay because that may mean they would have to give you additional benefits, such as medical, dental and vision coverage.
No work-related reimbursement
Some jobs ask employees to purchase work-related items such as tools and clothing. Employers may dock these purchases out of your salary or offer no reimbursement for the purchases illegally.
Tip pooling
Many employees make the meat of their income through tips. The work an employee puts into their job often rewards them with a bigger tip. Employers may cause their employees to receive fewer tips by pooling all employee tips. This can cause some employees to miss out on their deserved tips and allow employers to skim off the top.
If you believe you were a victim of wage theft and an overtime violation, you may need to reach out for legal help to know your rights.