Overtime and Unpaid Wages Lawyer in Miami
Those who work hard expect to be paid for their efforts, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, wage theft, perpetrated by employers who underpay workers or do not properly compensate them for overtime, is a problem.
If the 10 most populous states in the United States are representative of the country, nearly $15 billion dollars are stolen from workers in America each year. Most of these workers are low-income workers, more likely to be young people, people of color, immigrant workers, or females. The average victim of wage theft loses out on $3,300 of income per year while earning only $10,500.
If you are a victim of wage theft, you need the help of the expert attorneys at The Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A. We firmly believe that everyone deserves to be compensated for their hard work and we will fight to make sure that happens.
How Does Wage Theft Happen?
There are a few ways that employers can steal wages. These include:
- Withholding tips or distributing them amongst non-tipped staff
- Paying less than the minimum wage
- Refusing to pay appropriate overtime
- Forcing employees to work off the clock
Wage theft can also happen in very subtle ways. For example, some workers such as managers are often classified as exempt from overtime pay. Employers then may “promote” an employee to a managerial position. However, the employee’s job really has not changed but now they have lost their right to overtime.
Why Prosecute Wage Theft?
Employers that commit wage theft tend to take advantage of low-income workers. In other words, they target people who do not have the resources to fight for their rightful pay. Many people also fear retaliation from their employers. This can happen in a few ways such as:
- Reducing hours
- Giving the worker undesirable shifts
- Reducing job duties
- Offering undeserved negative performance reviews
- Demoting the worker
- Firing the worker
All of these retaliatory practices are illegal, but unfortunately, workers still fear them. Because of this, many employers get away with this underhanded crime. The unfortunate result is that wage theft is running rampant in this country.
Why You Should Hire a Miami Overtime and Unpaid Wages Lawyer
The only way to stop wage theft in America is by prosecuting those who are committing it and holding them accountable for their crimes. Victims can bring a lawsuit not only for the actual amount of wages stolen but also ask for additional damages.
If your employer is committing wage theft against you, it is likely that many of your coworkers are suffering the same thing. In that case, it may be a good idea to get together a group of plaintiffs to bring a lawsuit against the company. This will not only lend more weight to the case but also offer an extra sense of security and safety in numbers.
Contact the Best Overtime and Unpaid Wages Lawyers Today
If you or somebody you know have been the victim of wage theft, it is important to contact a qualified team of lawyers that can get you the maximum compensation available. The qualified overtime and unpaid wages lawyers at The Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A. will help you file your claim and aggressively fight for you until you are awarded the compensation you deserve.