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Are you an employee who hasn’t been paid? Here’s what you can do to get the wages you’ve earned.
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Check your contract
If you are an hourly employee, check your contract to see what it says about being paid for hours worked. If you are a salaried employee, check your contract to see if it says anything about being paid for hours worked. If you don’t have a contract, check with your state’s labor department to see if there are any laws that require your employer to pay you for hours worked.
If your contract does not say anything about being paid for hours worked, or if you do not have a contract, you may still be able to get paid for hours worked by filing a claim with your state’s labor department.
Talk to your boss
If you’re not being paid by your employer, the first thing you should do is talk to your boss. It’s possible that there has been a misunderstanding, and your boss may not be aware that you haven’t been paid. If you can’t come to an agreement, you may need to take further action.
Keep records
If your employer has not paid you, the first thing you should do is keep records. You will need these records to prove how much money you are owed. Keep track of all the hours you have worked and all the money you are owed. If your employer has given you any kind of written agreement, be sure to keep a copy of that as well.
If you have been trying to get your employer to pay you and they have not responded, you may want to consider talking to an attorney. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options under the law.
Consider small claims court
If your employer doesn’t pay you for work you’ve completed, you have a few options. You can file a complaint with your state’s labor department or try to resolve the issue directly with your employer. If those methods don’t work, you may need to take your employer to small claims court.
Each state has different requirements for filing a small claims case, but generally, you’ll need to file a complaint and pay a filing fee. You’ll then need to serve the complaint on your employer and appear in court on the date of the hearing.
If you win your case, the court will order your employer to pay you the money you’re owed. The court may also order your employer to pay additional damages and costs, such as attorney’s fees.
File a complaint with the labor department
If your employer doesn’t pay you, the first thing you should do is file a complaint with the labor department. Depending on your state, there may be different agencies that handle wage disputes, so it’s important to find the right one. You can usually find contact information for your state’s labor department on their website.
Once you’ve filed a complaint, an investigator will look into your case and try to get your employer to pay you the wages you’re owed. If they’re successful, you should receive a check for the back wages you’re owed. If not, you may have to take your employer to court to get the money you’re owed.
Withhold services
If your employer doesn’t pay you, the first thing you should do is talk to them. It’s possible that there was a misunderstanding or that the payment is just late. If you can’t resolve the issue with your employer, your next step is to withhold services.
Withholding services means that you stop working until you are paid. This is usually done in conjunction with other employees who are also not being paid. Withholding services is an extreme measure and should only be done as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted.
If you decide to withhold services, be sure to document everything. Keep a record of the days you work, the hours you work, and what tasks you complete. This will help you prove that you withheld services and will be useful if you need to take legal action against your employer.
Seek legal counsel
If your employer does not pay you for work that you have already performed, you may want to seek legal counsel. An attorney can review your employment contract and help you determine your next course of action. You may also want to file a complaint with the Department of Labor or your state’s labor department.
Go public
If your employer hasn’t paid you for your work, you have a few options. You can go public with your story, file a complaint with the Department of Labor, or take legal action.
Going public can put pressure on your employer to pay you what you’re owed. You can post about your situation on social media, write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper, or call into a radio show. The more people who know about your situation, the more pressure there will be on your employer to do the right thing.
If you decide to go public, be sure to stay calm and polite. Avoid making any threatening statements or threats of violence. Simply state the facts of your case and let people know that you’re still waiting to be paid for your work.
Negotiate
If you’re not getting paid what you’re owed by your employer, the first thing you should do is try to negotiate with them. It’s possible that there was simply a misunderstanding, and that your employer didn’t realize they were supposed to be paying you more. If you approach them in a calm and reasonable manner, they may be willing to work something out with you.
If negotiation doesn’t work, or if your employer refuses to budge, then your next step is to contact the labor board in your state. They will be able to help you file a claim and get the money you’re owed.
Move on
Of course, not getting paid is a serious issue, and you shouldn’t just shrug it off and move on. But in many cases, it may be the best thing to do.
If you’ve been working for your employer for a while and they suddenly stop paying you, it’s probably not a good sign. They may be facing financial difficulties and be unable to pay their employees. In this case, it’s best to start looking for another job.
If you’ve only been working for your employer for a short time, they may simply be disorganized and behind on their payments. In this case, you could try to work with them to get paid, but if they’re unwilling or unable to do so, it’s probably best to move on.
Not getting paid is understandably frustrating, but in many cases, the best thing you can do is move on.
