Wage and hour violations involve non-salaried employees who have not been fairly compensated under the law by their employers. Employers can violate wage and hour laws in numerous ways. For example, common wage and hour violations include:
- Required off-the-clock work—Many wage and hour violations occur when an employer requires its employees to work before or after the employees clocked in or out without compensating them. Off-the-clock violations may include a variety of tasks that that employees are required to perform for their employment. For example, an employer who requires its employees to go through a security check before clocking in may constitute a wage and hour violation.
- Failing to provide adequate rest breaks—Wage an hour claims often involve an employer’s failure to provide adequate rest breaks. In California, your employer must provide an uninterrupted 10-minute rest break when you work a shift of 3.5 hours or more. Also, under California Labor Code section 226.7, your employer must pay you an extra hour of compensation for failing to provide an adequate rest break.
- Failing to provide adequate meal breaks— Wage and hour violations can also occur when an employer fails to provide adequate meal breaks. If you have been denied a 30-minute meal break when you work more than 5 hours per day, you may have a wage and hour violation claim. Furthermore, if you work more than 10 hours per day, your employer must provide an additional 30-minute meal break. Also, under California Labor Code section 226.7, your employer must pay you an extra hour of compensation for failing to provide a meal break.
- Inadequate overtime compensation—Employers can also violate wage and hour laws by failing to provide adequate overtime compensation. If you work more than 8 hours a day and/or 40 hours a week, your employer must pay you 1.5 times your hourly rate. If you are required to work more than 12 hours a day, you must be paid 2 times your hourly rate.
If you believe that you may have a wage and hour violation claim, seek guidance from a knowledgeable employment lawyer. Our labor and employment lawyers at Makarem & Associates have the experience and resources to successfully prosecute wage and hour class action lawsuits and can advise you about your rights. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential consultation.