Upper Marlboro, MD Wage and Hour Violation Attorneys

Trusted Attorneys for Wage Theft Claims in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

As an employee in the state of Maryland, you are entitled to fair compensation for your work. Most people know this to be true, but few people know how you can respond to wage theft at your workplace. If you have been deprived of your hard-earned money, an Upper Marlboro wage and hour violation attorney can provide you with valuable representation and counsel to enforce your rights at your job.

Wage theft can be difficult to identify. Your employer may ask multiple "small favors" of you, but over the course of weeks, months, and years, unpaid wages can pile up. You deserve someone to look out for your best interests. At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can help you take legal action and pursue the compensation that you are rightly owed.

Underreporting Hours

Keeping track of your hours is one of the most reliable metrics for tracking how much labor you have contributed to your employer. If an employer requires you to work off the clock or demands that you stay a few minutes after your shift is scheduled to end, it could be representative of a much bigger problem. This is a form of wage theft, an illegal practice in Maryland.

If you are questioning whether or not you have suffered from wage theft, you can start by looking at your pay stubs. Do your hours worked match the amount you have been paid? Moreover, are you getting paid for fewer hours than what you actually worked? If so, a wage hour violation attorney can explore your possible avenues for compensation.

Minimum Wage Requirements

In Maryland, the minimum wage you are entitled to depends on your job. If a significant portion of your income comes from tips, you may be subject to a lower minimum wage than most other employees. Additionally, employees under the age of 18 can be paid at 85% of the state's minimum wage.

At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can look at your case to see if your employer violated any minimum wage law. We can help you file a complaint with the Maryland Department of Labor or the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. If your employer retaliates against you, we can help you fight for compensation.

Misclassification of Employees

In an effort to cut costs, some employers will label certain workers as independent contractors instead of employees. This is because independent contractors do not have the same entitlements and rights as employees, such as minimum wage or overtime pay.

If you believe that you have been wrongly identified as an independent contractor instead of an employee deserving of benefits, Melehy & Associates LLC can help. If you can show that you are economically dependent on an employer for work, then you could be classified as an employee. Our lawyers can closely examine your working life to see if you are entitled to benefits.

Similarly, it is not unheard of for employers to "promote" an employee to the position of manager or assistant manager so that they do not have to pay mandatory overtime on work weeks that exceed 40 hours. You may only qualify as a manager if you are responsible for at least two employees and if you have meaningful input in hiring or firing employees.

Contact an Upper Marlboro, Maryland Wage and Hour Violation Lawyer

Do not let your voice as an employee be silenced. At Melehy & Associates LLC, we can represent you in claims of wage theft, fighting to protect your best interests. Our attorneys have real experience negotiating for successful results in past cases, including a $300,000 wage and hour verdict for 13 laborers in the District of Columbia. To set up a free case evaluation today, call our offices at 301-587-6364 or reach out through our secure contact form.