Frequently Asked Questions About Washington D.C. Wage Laws

If you work as an employee in Washington D.C., you are eligible for overtime pay when you have worked over 40 hours in a week. Overtime compensation is paid out at a rate equal to 1.5 times your regular wages.

Certain employees are labeled as exempt from overtime pay. In Washington D.C., this includes railroad workers, employees who work for commission, car dealership employees, and seamen. Additionally, salaried employees in an executive or administrative role might not qualify for overtime pay if they earn more than a certain amount per week.

In general, wage theft refers to any unlawful act by an employer to deprive an employee of lawfully earned wages. This can include paying non-exempt employees for less than minimum wage, not paying employees for breaks or lunches, or not paying employees for overtime rates.

If you believe that your rights to a fair wage have been violated, you can file a claim through the D.C. Department of Employment Services. The Department will then investigate your employer to determine whether or not you are owed wages. If your employer is found to have violated Washington D.C. wage and hour laws, the Department can take action to see that your employer complies with the law.

You can also take your employer to court to file a lawsuit for your lost wages. At Melehy & Associates LLC, our attorneys can help you figure out a plan of action to enforce your rights.

In Washington D.C., it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for reporting wage theft at your workplace. The D.C. Department of Employment Services handles employer retaliation claims, and after an investigation, they can help you work toward appropriate relief. You can also file a retaliation complaint through the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.

If you suspect that your employer has deprived you of your wages, one of the first things you can do is to review your paychecks. Small discrepancies between your hours and your pay can be crucial for uncovering serious misconduct by your employer.

At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can sit down with you to help identify and take action against wage theft. If necessary, we are more than prepared to take your case to court for the wages that you are owed.