Common Minimum Wage Violations

Wage laws are often violated. This can happen directly or indirectly. If an employer pays you less than the minimum wage, that is a violation. In another situation, a pay rate in excess of the minimum wage rate may be paid but that rate is reduced by improper deductions, that would be an indirect violation.

If you have questions about your Ohio employment, discussing the situation with a legal professional can be helpful. For example, to learn more about what type of employer deductions are legal, and when they are appropriate, talk to a Columbus employment attorney.

Examples of Wage and Hour Violations

Wage and hour attorneys like our unpaid wages and unpaid overtime law firm regularly collects back wages for workers. Some of these unpaid amounts are connected to minimum wages. There are also times the back wages are connected to unpaid overtime pay or other wage theft issues.

Some of the ways incorrect wages happen follow:

• Failing to pay overtime hours fully or properly.
• Not paying at least the rate required by minimum wage laws.
• Requiring employees to work without pay.
• Misclassifying workers as independent contractors.
• Misclassifying non-exempt employees as exempt (not entitled to overtime)
• Illegal paycheck deductions that reduce a wage to below minimum wage.
• Disciplining workers by withholding their pay.
• Paying tipped employees lower than minimum wage.

If you are a worker who has not been paid the amount you are owed for your work, you have rights. A Columbus employment attorney has the experience to help you move toward a solution.

Ohio Employees and Wage Protections

American workers in Ohio are protected in a couple of ways, there is protection on a federal level with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and on the state level with the Ohio Minimum Fair Wage Standards Act (OMFWSA). These laws are enforced by wage and hour attorneys like our unpaid wages and unpaid overtime law firm.

In 2020, the minimum wage in Ohio is $8.70 and most employees of our state have the right to that amount. There are a few examples of workers who are exempt, but those circumstances need to be legal and clear. Employers cannot pay workers the less than minimum wage. This is illegal and hurts workers. Workers can potentially lose thousands each year because of wage and hour violations.

When an employee is not paid in accordance with the FLSA and the OMFWSA, it is likely that other employees are likely affected in the same or a substantially similar manner. When this happens, an employee may bring a collective or class action to pursue their rights as well as the rights of others. Our firm regularly prosecutes cases involving potential classes of employees ranging from several to hundreds to thousands of employees.

Have you been the victim of an unlawful pay practice resulting in unpaid wages or unpaid overtime? The attorneys at Coffman Legal LLC fight for workers. Our lawyers can help you with your employment claim and you may be eligible for a financial settlement that includes your unpaid wages, additional compensation under federal and state laws, and attorney’s fees and costs. Call 614-949-1181 for a free and confidential consultation.