Reporting a wage and hour violation: Know your rights

As an employee, there are both federal and state laws in place to protect your legal rights. For example, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is in place to ensure that all employers pay the federal minimum wage, along with overtime when required.

Reporting a wage and hour violation isn’t something you want to do, but there’s never a good time to let your employer take advantage of you.

Before you file a formal report, you have the opportunity to discuss your situation with your company. For example, you can ask the human resources department to answer any questions on your mind, all with the idea of clearing the air.

Reasons to file a report

If you can’t work things out with your employer, it’s time to file a report. The purpose of doing so is to show your employer that you’re serious, and of course, to receive the money that is due to you.

If you have reason to believe you’ve been denied proper wages, collect the following information:

• Employer name and contact details
• Your job title, description of work and dates the work was performed
• Payment information, including how much you typically get paid and how you receive the money
• A description of the violation

Reporting a wage and hour violation is within your legal rights, so don’t hesitate to take action if your employer is not paying you as required by law.

As you learn more about federal and state laws, you’ll come to find that you have many protections. You may simply need to fight back to get the money you deserve.