Chattanooga Wage and Hour Attorneys
Wage and hour laws are in place to protect employees from mistreatment. Nonetheless, employers still look for ways to get around paying their workers rightful minimum wage and overtime.
When motivated by pressure or a desire to increase profit margins, many employers look for ways to reduce spending which may include reducing or minimizing wages. Although there are several ways to lawfully cut costs, if an employer violates wage and hour laws, they are subject to serious penalties.
If you are not receiving adequate wages and overtime compensation, a Chattanooga wage and hour lawyer may be able to help you. An experienced employment attorney at Employment and Commerce Law Group could help individuals pursue fair compensation in Chattanooga.
Chattanooga Minimum Wage Laws
Tennessee does not have its own state minimum wage laws, so the federal laws apply in Chattanooga. With a few exceptions, the guidelines of the Fair Labor Standards Act or (FLSA) are applicable to most Tennessee employers and employees. Workers who do not receive the FLSA minimum wage of $7.25 per hour include tipped employees, full-time students, and employees younger than twenty.
Who Receives Overtime Compensation?
In addition to establishing minimum wage requirements, the FLSA also sets forth overtime compensation laws for employees. As a Chattanooga wage and hour lawyer knows, employees generally receive overtime pay when they work over forty hours in one work week. Under the FLSA, an employer should pay overtime compensation to employees at a rate of at least one and a half times their regular pay.
Although overtime is not necessary for work completed on holidays or weekends, an employer must pay employees for hours they work before or after scheduled shifts or otherwise “off the clock.” An employee should not have to ask or argue about overtime pay, employers legally owe employees this compensation and should include it in their paychecks without hesitation.
Common Wage and Hour Violations
Often misclassified employees:
- Did not receive compensation for overtime hours
- Did not receive compensation for off the clock work
- Were misclassified as independent contractors or salaried employees
- Did not receive compensation for meal breaks
If someone decides to file a claim, it is illegal for an employer to terminate employment or take other retaliatory action. If someone has experienced any of these or other issues with their employment, they should not hesitate to speak to a Chattanooga wage and hour lawyer.
Employee Misclassification
Employers often misclassify employees as independent contractors or salaried employees. If someone falls into either of these categories, they are exempt from the requirements under the FLSA and other employment benefits.
Whether a misclassification was an innocent oversight or a deliberate action by an employer, it is a mistake that an employer should correct. Being an exempt employee means that someone may not receive workers’ compensation, overtime, minimum wage, health insurance, or unemployment benefits. Contact a Chattanooga wage and hour lawyer if you have experienced any of the aforementioned violations by your employer.
