Silver Spring, MD Wage and Hour Violation Attorneys

Experienced Wage Theft Claims Attorneys Representing Employees in Silver Spring, Maryland

Wage theft is a serious violation of both state and federal law. Yet every day, employers unlawfully withhold wages by failing to pay minimum wage, denying overtime, or misclassifying employees. In many cases, workers may not even realize they are being shortchanged. Others may stay silent out of fear of retaliation. If you believe your employer has stolen your wages, you don’t have to face it alone. A skilled Silver Spring employment law attorney can help you understand your rights and help you take action.

At Melehy & Associates LLC, we are unwavering advocates for employee rights. If your employer has failed to pay you fairly or violated wage and hours laws, our experienced lawyers are ready to stand by your side. We will fight for the full compensation you are owed.

Identifying Wage Theft at Your Workplace

"Wage theft" is a broad term used to describe the illegal withholding of earnings to an employee by an employer. Wage theft can be accidental or purposeful, but in many cases, it is a deliberate attempt by an employer to save money by not paying employees for the full worth of their labor. Wage theft can take many different forms, such as:

• Paying employees below the minimum wage
• Failing to pay non-exempt employees overtime wages
• Forcing employees to work through their lunch
• Requiring employees to work off the clock
• Making unlawful deductions from employee paychecks
• Misrepresenting employee hours on pay stubs
• Misclassifying employees as managers or independent contractors to avoid paying overtime

If your employer has committed any of these acts, you may be owed unpaid wages. Before you take legal action, you should document any and all instances of wage theft at your workplace, noting the hours you worked and the wages that you were not fairly compensated for.

Filing a Wage Theft Complaint

If you want to file a formal wage theft complaint, you should contact an attorney who can arrange to file a complaint in court on your behalf. You should also assemble documentation which would include pay stubs or time records if you have them and you should estimate the amount owed by your employer.

Once you file your claim, the labor board will investigate your workplace, which may involve an audit and several interviews. If your employer is found to have committed wage theft, the labor board can help you resolve the issue in an efficient manner, compelling your employer to provide you with appropriate relief.

You may also choose to file a lawsuit against your employer to recover additional compensation. Whichever route you choose, our lawyers are here to support you.

Can My Employer Penalize Me for Filing a Complaint?

Employers in Maryland have the liberty to hire and fire whoever they wish. However, it is unlawful for an employer to terminate an employee simply for filing a complaint against them. Furthermore, an employer cannot punish you by docking your wages, reducing your hours, or demoting you to a lower position in response to filing a complaint.

If you feel that you have been subject to retaliation by your employer, our attorneys can file a claim to help you get relief for the damage you have suffered. As skilled litigators, we are not afraid to represent you in court to help you get a fair, full remedy.

Meet With a Silver Spring, MD Wage Theft Attorney

As an employee in Maryland, you are entitled to certain protections. At Melehy & Associates LLC, our Silver Spring wage and hour lawyers are here to help you enforce those protections in a wage theft claim. To schedule a free case evaluation today, call our offices at 301-587-6364 or reach out to us online.