Wage theft is a major problem in Minnesota and across the US, and collectively it’s costing hard working Minnesotans more than $100 million a year. If this is surprising to you, know that it’s surprising to most people, because most employers do operate in good faith and within the regulations. It may also come as a surprise because you may not be aware of all the different types of wage theft that can be committed. Below, we take a closer look at some common examples of wage theft and explain exactly what you should do if you suspect that you’re a victim of wage theft in Minnesota.
Examples Of Wage Theft
Broadly speaking, wage theft occurs when an employer doesn’t pay an employee what they are owed, but this can be achieved through a number of different means. Here’s a look at a number of ways that a company or employer can commit wage theft:
- Paying an employee less than minimum wage.
- Paying an employee less than a contracted amount.
- Not paying eligible employees overtime pay.
- Requiring work to be completed off the clock.
- Taking illegal deductions from wages.
- Not giving an employee their paycheck.
- Withholding tips or other earned income.
- Failing to pay withheld taxes
- Paying cash under the table to avoid having to pay for workers’ comp insurance.
- Misclassifying employees to avoid paying certain benefits.
This isn’t even a complete list, but it speaks to how easy it is for an employer to commit wage theft on an unsuspecting employee. If you’re at all suspicious that your wages have been incorrectly paid, bring up your concerns to your company or a lawyer. If it’s an honest mistake and the company works to correct it, you may not need any additional action. On the other hand, if they ignore your complaints or threaten to fire you because you brought the situation to light, it’s time to retain counsel.
Have You Been A Victim Of Wage Theft?
If you believe that you may be a victim of wage theft and your boss or your employer isn’t taking corrective action, your next step is to reach out to a workers’ compensation firm like Hey Workers. We’d be more than happy to review the facts of your case and explain whether or not your company’s actions constitute wage theft.
If we believe you have a legitimate claim, you can hire us and we’ll start building your wage theft claim. We can also help in the event that multiple workers have been affected. In most instances, these cases are conducted on a contingent basis, meaning that you don’t owe your attorney anything unless you win your case. You’ll want to ensure that’s what it says in your contract, but know that it’s unlikely you’ll have to pay out of pocket for legal services when your wages have already been unfairly withheld by your employer. The only time you’d have to write a large check to the law firm is if they are able to help you secure a massive payday, as they’ll earn a small percentage of whatever they can secure for you.
Oftentimes wage loss claims are very difficult to win on your own, because even if you have a convincing case, the paperwork can get complex and your employer will likely have attorneys on their side working to dismantle your claims. Don’t go through this process alone. Connect with a wage loss attorney, let them put together a strong claim and take back what you’re owed through a wage loss claim.
We’ve helped countless employees get paid what they were rightfully owed, and we’d be happy to do the same for you. Millions of dollars are wrongly withheld from employees each year, but don’t let this be the case for you. Connect with a wage loss attorney and let us get you every penny you deserve. For more information, or for questions about your possible wage loss case, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
