Missing a paycheck can cause major financial stress that you don’t deserve to experience. If you think you are owed wages at work, you may be entitled to file a wage claim.
Under California labor laws, workers must receive any payment owed for all hours worked, including overtime and commission. An employer that fails to pay you what you have earned under their employment may be liable for wage theft.
One of the things you can do if you think you’re owed wages at work is contact a Los Angeles unpaid wage lawyer. By reviewing pay records and other important evidence, they can help you reclaim the money you’re entitled to.
Examples of Lost Wages
California’s Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has an extensive list of examples of wage theft. Some of the main ones to look out for include:
- Being paid less than minimum wage per hour
- Not receiving the wages you agreed upon in your contract of employment
- Missed overtime, vacation, and sick pay
- Withholding the final paycheck
- Illegal deductions
If there are any discrepancies with your wages or if you’re missing a payment, then you may be able to file a claim.
Steps You Can Take if You Think You’re Owed Wages at Work
Being left without the money you’re entitled to can lead to financial strain, especially if this is a recurring pattern at your current workplace. If this does happen, here’s what you should do:
1. Check Your Paycheck
Find your pay stubs and compare them with your clocked hours to see if they match. If there’s something missing or your pay is incorrect, you could be owed for unpaid work. Investigating this information first will tell you whether you have a case on your hands.
2. Document the Evidence
With the above confirmation, start gathering your evidence. Collect your pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, and timesheets. You should also save any relevant communication with your employer, such as emails or texts that outline your scheduled hours and pay.
Make copies of each piece of evidence, as well as your employee contract. This will work in your favor when it comes to pursuing compensation.
3. Request the Wages You’re Owed
Before you go down the legal route, you should first send a formal request to your employer, asking for the money you’re entitled to. This gives them the chance to respond and hopefully rectify the situation. After all, your missed pay could have been the result of a simple payroll error.
4. File a Wage Claim
If your employer fails to respond to your request or refuses to pay you what you’re owed, you may be able to file for unpaid wages. Taking legal action provides you with the opportunity to recover your lost wages, missed overtime, unpaid commission, and any other damages you may have suffered.
5. Hire an Unpaid Wage Lawyer
If you think you’re owed wages at work and have chosen to seek compensation, an unpaid wage lawyer can support your claim. They have the legal knowledge to carefully assess your situation and help calculate your damages. An attorney can also assist with evidence preservation and negotiations.
(310) 526-8383How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?
According to the DIR, there are several deadlines for filing a wage theft claim. Generally, you have up to three years to claim for violations regarding minimum wage, unpaid rest and meal breaks, sick leave, overtime, illegal deductions, or unpaid reimbursements.
However, there’s typically a one-year time limit for claiming against bounced checks and a two-year time limit if your employer failed to honor an oral promise to pay you more than minimum wage. Claims based on a written contract of employment can sometimes have limits of up to four years.
An attorney can advise you on claim deadlines and take care of all your documentation so that you’re prepared when it comes to filing for lost wages.
Get the Wages You’re Owed at Work with Support from Omega Law Group
Sometimes simple mistakes can happen. Unpaid wages are easy to rectify when they’re a result of payroll errors or IT issues, but when an employer outright refuses to pay you what you’re owed, it’s much harder to overlook.
If you think you’re owed wages at work, Omega Law Group can help you recover these losses. Our unpaid wage lawyers always put clients first and understand how a missed paycheck can impact your life.
We can review your situation and offer guidance throughout the claims process so that you get the compensation you’re entitled to. Get in touch with our team today for a free consultation or to learn more about this topic with our guide on how to recover lost wages after an accident.
