Wage Theft

Workers across the country benefit from the protection of both federal and state employment laws. However, workers often struggle to understand their rights, and many companies will happily take advantage of those who lack the understanding and resources to hold these...

Many employees are surprised to learn that their employer can terminate their employees at will. At-will employment means that either party—the employer or the employee—can terminate the employment relationship at any time or for any reason so long as the reason isn’t illegal. So, to answer the question posed above—yes, your employer can fire you for refusing to work overtime.…

Independent contractors and employees are treated differently under federal wage and hour laws and regulations. According to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), only employees have the right to be paid a minimum wage and overtime compensation, while an independent contractor does not. Determining whether you are an independent contractor rather than an employee goes beyond the label given by…

Wage theft is a serious issue affecting employees of large and small businesses. There are several ways employers can steal wages from their hardworking employees. Some of the more obvious methods of wage theft include: Denial of overtime pay Minimum wage violations Failure to receive a final paycheck Time shaving In this article, We Stop Wage Theft will explore the…

Through the combined efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor, State Departments of Labor, and various class action and collective action lawsuits, roughly $3 billion of stolen wages were recovered on behalf of employees between 2017 and 2020. Unfortunately, these recoveries represent a small fraction of the total of stolen wages in the US. Every year, millions of Americans are…

Although time tracking software streamlines clocking in, clocking out, and keeping track of an employee’s hours, it is not without controversy. According to a report by the American Business Law Journal, there is evidence that this technology may allow employers to more easily commit wage theft. Wage theft is a big problem for hourly employees who have to use time…

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been working from home than ever before. For some employees, working remotely was a temporary change. However, for other employees, working from home has become a permanent arrangement. This leaves many employees wondering what work-from-home expenses they are responsible for and which ones their employers should cover. While working remotely…

If your job requires that you take a temperature check before you start your shift, you might be wondering if that activity counts as compensable time. Under FLSA law, if the activity is considered a “principal activity,” in that it is necessary to complete for the employee to perform their duties, then it is compensable. Expanding on this, employers must…

If you work in a field that requires you to wear personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE”, or other equipment, your employer might have to compensate you for donning and doffing gear. We will explore the circumstances where paid compensation may be required by law. Read on to find out if you should be getting paid for the…

Independent contractor misclassification is an illegal but little-known practice used by unscrupulous employers to underpay workers. Often, the impact of employee misclassification can have devastating implications for U.S. workers who are attempting to earn an honest wage. This form of wage theft is a blight that many pay for but only a few benefit from. What Does Employee Misclassification Mean?…