Unpaid Wages in New Jersey
Our wage and hour attorneys represent employees throughout New Jersey who have been denied overtime pay, refused overtime pay, misclassified as exempt for overtime, misclassified as professional employees, salaried employees who are actually entitled to overtime pay, and other overtime law violations by employers in New Jersey and can help collect the unpaid overtime.
Federal and New Jersey overtime law guarantees you the right to fair wages. Unfortunately, employers too often disregard their legal duty to provide you with the overtime pay and compensation you deserve.
Fair Labor Standards Act
If you are an hourly or salaried employee and have been denied a rightful claim to overtime, or you have otherwise not been properly compensated for work you have done, you have rights. Regardless of whether you have been wrongfully labeled exempt from coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (the FLSA) or you have been misclassified as an independent contractor and not eligible for overtime or retirement benefits, we can help you get full and fair compensation for your lost wages and overtime.
Our NJ labor attorneys represent both current and former employees in matters involving wage and hour claims and unfair treatment under the Fair Labor Standards Act (the FLSA). Wages and overtime earned by most employees are protected by the provisions of the FLSA. With some exceptions, federal law requires that employees who work in excess of 40 hours per week be paid overtime. New Jersey also has a state wage payment statute, governing issues like frequency of pay, deductions, and changes in an employee’s rate of pay.
Why Wages Go Unpaid
Unpaid wages are a serious issue for employees in New Jersey. There are a few common reasons wages may go unpaid:
- Minimum wage violations – If an employer fails to pay the legal minimum wage, currently $14.13 per hour in NJ, they are violating state labor laws. Employees have the right to file a claim to recover unpaid minimum wages.
- Overtime violations – Federal and NJ law requires time-and-a-half pay for overtime hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Denying overtime pay is illegal wage theft. Employees can sue for the unpaid overtime wages.
- Illegal deductions – Employers cannot make deductions from paychecks that bring workers below minimum wage. Deductions for uniforms, supplies, or cash register shortages that cause net pay to fall below the minimum wage violate wage laws.
- Bounced paychecks – When payroll checks bounce due to insufficient employer funds, employees must be paid. Failure to make good on bounced checks is a nonpayment of earned wages.
Unpaid wages can be recovered through lawsuits and NJ Department of Labor complaints. There are strict time limits, so workers should act promptly. Employers face penalties like treble damages and legal fees.
Compensation For Unpaid Wages
Generally speaking, nearly all hourly-paid workers are entitled to overtime. Contrary to popular belief, even some salaried employees can claim overtime. We understand the provisions of the federal and state wage payment statutes and work with individuals to get full and fair compensation for wage and hour violations they have suffered. Our NJ labor attorneys can help explain the overtime pay laws, overtime regulations, and overtime rules.
Contact Our New Jersey Wage and Hour Attorneys Today
Contact our NJ labor attorneys at Castronovo & McKinney today at 973-920-7888 for a free confidential consultation regarding your overtime rights.