If you haven’t been getting minimum wage or the correct overtime rate from your employer, you can file a complaint against them. You can also do so if your employer did not provide you with meal breaks and other benefits. By filing a claim, you can get what’s rightfully yours and extra financial compensation through liquidated damages. Skilled wage & hour lawyers can represent you in your case. The following are the common wage violations in Connecticut and what you can do to pursue wage & hour lawyers:
Unpaid Minimum Wages
Every employee must be paid the minimum wage rate in the state. In Connecticut, the minimum wage is $15 per hour. If your boss is not paying you this rate, a great lawyer can help you collect the unpaid ages from them.
Unpaid Overtime Hours
Employers must pay their workers 1.5 times their regular rate for the extra hours they have worked. Thus, if you did not get overtime pay, despite your entitlement to it, you can get 50 percent of your regular rate per hour for each hour you have worked.
Meals and Rest Breaks
Employers should give meal breaks for their workers at some times throughout their workday. Those who work 7.5 consecutive hours should be given a thirty-minute break, which should happen sometime after 2 hours or before 5.5 hours. Exemptions apply for certain situations and your attorney can tell you these details. Federal law requires employers to pay workers asked to do some work during rest or meal breaks, provided that this work lasts for twenty minutes or less.
Filing an Unpaid Wage Claim in Connecticut
To recover unpaid minimum wage, you can file a claim with the Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Wage and Workplace Standards. Also, you can file a lawsuit against your boss. If you choose this route, you need an attorney to represent you. During your initial consultation with your lawyer, you can discuss attorney’s fees, which can be done on a contingency fee basis. Thus, your lawyer only gets paid when they can successfully recover unpaid wages for you.
After you settle the fee structure, you can discuss the details of your claim. Your attorney will determine how your employer violated the law and give you options to challenge their illegal conduct. Your lawyer can file a claim with the Department of Labor or a lawsuit in state or federal court. Also, they can negotiate a settlement with your employer.
