Are you working hours that you’re not getting paid for? You should be paid for all of your hours worked, including any preparation time, clean-up time, time spent putting on a uniform or safety gear, and travel time between job sites. According to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), “In general, ‘hours worked’ includes all time an employee must be on duty, or on the employer’s premises or at any other prescribed place of work. Also included is any additional time the employee is allowed (i.e., suffered or permitted) to work.”
If you work more than 8 hours in one day or more than 40 hours in a seven-day week, federal law ordinarily requires your employer to pay time-and-a-half your regular rate for the extra hours. Additionally, if you work more than 12 hours in one day or 8 hours on the seventh day of a work week, your employer should likely be paying you double time. Employers generally cannot deduct money from your paycheck for required uniforms, equipment, or other items if this would reduce your pay to below the federal, state, or local minimum wage.
If you do suspect that your paycheck is wrong, you should inform your supervisor to see if it is a mistake that your employer can fix by including your unpaid wages in your next check. You should also keep a record of your work hours, including when you arrive and leave from work, any prep time, cleanup time, and travel to and from work sites. Consider asking your coworkers if their paychecks also do not include hours worked. If your employer does not address the issue, consider contacting an attorney.
