If you work in Washington DC or in one of the surrounding states and are concerned that your employer is not paying you the wages he or she is supposed to, it may be in your best interest to contact a FLSA law firm Washington DC employees can count on.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is a labor law in the United States that requires employers to pay certain types of employees at least one and a half times their regular hourly rate, when they work more than forty hours in a seven day period (or whatever time period is considered to be one week). The kinds of employees that employers are supposed to give this wage rate to are called non-exempt employees.
Even though the specifics are much more nuanced than what is described here, under the FLSA there are exempt and non-exempt employees. Workers who fill rolls that are categorized as, administrators, professionals, executives, and contract workers, are typically considered to be exempt employees and typically are not paid overtime for working over 40 hours a week. Non-exempt employees are typically hourly wage earners who come from a wide range of industries and types of jobs. Store clerks, construction workers, nurses, gardeners, house & office cleaners, gas station attendants, theater attendants and babysitters are just a few of the jobs whose employees are typically considered to be non-exempt workers.
Unfair and Dishonest Employers
Even though there are many honest and fair employers out there, there are an unfortunate many who will try to avoid paying overtime to there non-exempt employees by claiming that there positions are in fact exempt. As well, many of these less noble employers will take advantage of workers who do not know about or understand the laws that affect their wages. Many times an employer claims exempt status for employee even though this does not follow the guidelines set by the government that define whether or not a worker is an exempt employee.
If you think you are being taken advantage of by your employer, a FLSA law firm Washington DC non-exempt employees recommend may help you to make more informed decisions about whether or not you should pursue trying to get an unfair employer to be liable for their illegal practices.
Fear of Employer Retaliation
Many employees of unfair and dishonest employers are fearful of trying to stand up for their rights. Many strong, intelligent and skilled employees are scared that if they ask their employer to give them the wages they are entitled to, including back pay from before the employer spoke up, that they will be fired. And even though the FLSA bars employers from firing employees who are contesting their employer’s practices, docking their pay, making threats, or using forceful, intimidating or violent tactics, unfair and dishonest employers have been known to do these things.
Protection From Unfair and Dishonest Employees
Even though it is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee for filing a complaint regarding overtime pay, many employers have been successful in doing this. Another tactic for doing this is to fire someone for “other” (i.e. made up, or less than factual) reasons that the employer may claim has nothing to do with the employee’s complaint, even though it may be apparent that the employer did not have plans to fire the employee prior to his or her complaint.
If you have asked your employer for the wages that you are entitled to under the FLSA and they have denied you this right, or if you want to speak up but are not sure how, a safe place to discuss these situations and more is with an experienced F:SA lawyer at a reputable law firm that has successfully defended employees against their unfair employer’s wage practices in the past.
For a FLSA law firm Washington DC employees and their families recommend with over 30 years of experience with protecting the rights of employees in Washington DC and the surrounding states, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation, today.
